Withers Worldwide

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (the ‘Act')

The Act, which came into force on 6 April 2008, clarifies the criminal liabilities of companies or organisations where serious failures in the management of health and safety result in fatality. The Act creates a new criminal offence of corporate manslaughter that replaces the common law offence of manslaughter by gross negligence for companies.

The Act was adopted to address a long-standing concern that the common law principles of manslaughter were ill suited to the prosecution of companies. Now, companies can be held accountable as evidenced by the first case brought under the Act recently.

For a brief overview of the Act, please see our related publication to the right.

Our corporate team is experienced in conducting risk assessment reviews and identifying areas of concern. We help our clients to make sure that effective risk management and other health and safety policies are put in place to ensure effective planning, organisation and monitoring of preventive and protective measures.