Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

[Scottish Business Owner]

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. For the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care.

The Act, which will come into force on 6 April 2008, clarifies the criminal liabilities of companies including large organisations where serious failures in the management of health and safety result in a fatality.

For more info please visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/corpmanslaughter/

 

[Boxby]

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. For the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care.

The Act, which will come into force on 6 April 2008, clarifies the criminal liabilities of companies including large organisations where serious failures in the management of health and safety result in a fatality.

For more info please visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/corpmanslaughter/

Wasn't there always a crime of Corporate Manslaughter in Scotland? Or am I thinking of something else?

 

[stressmom]

This is an intersting law. I would, however, think that for many years companies could be held accountable for fatalities when it was caused by mismanagement or neglect. Am I wrong?

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

Here's what I found on the subject going back the way:

Prior to the 2005 Bill, the Government made proposals in 2000:-

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docume...er/2000-cons-invol-manslaughter.pdf?version=1

And the Law Commission published a report in 1996. This is well worth reading to understand the legal background:-

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docume...laughter/law-commission-report-1996?version=1

So I guess both of you are right to some degree