'Corporate manslaughter' laws to be tightened up

The Home Secretary today tabled a new bill to tighten up laws governing 'corporate manslaughter'.

Mr Blunkett said today that he wanted to see a new law that will "bite properly" those large corporations whose failure to set or maintain standards causes a death. He said the plans are not targeted at companies that take their health and safety responsibilities seriously.

The legislation will be targeted at companies themselves, which the government says is the area of weakness in the current law. Costs of a change in the law will not be large, according to preliminary results from a Regulatory Impact Assessment carried out by the government.

Mr Blunkett said: "There is great public concern at the criminal law's lack of success in convicting companies of manslaughter where a death has occurred due to gross negligence by the organisation as a whole."

A timetable for legislation and further details will be announced this autumn.

The move was first proposed by the Law Commission in 1996, and subsequently approved by the government in its consultation document of 2000.

Deaths in the workplace have increased from 253 in 1998 to 350 last year.

Also, following last night's revolt by 33 MPs against limiting trial by jury, the Home Office unveiled proposals today for an amendment to increase the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving from 10 to 14 years.

Despite mounting internal disaffection with proposals contained in the Criminal Justice Bill, Home Secretary David Blunkett pushed once more for a late addition to his legislation.

The amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill will target those who kill - be it through driving dangerously - whilst under the influence of drink or drugs or joyriding.

Home Office Minister Lord Falconer said: "The government is determined that drivers who kill should be properly punished. The actions of dangerous and irresponsible drivers can be devastating, not only for victims’ families, but for whole communities."

(GMcG)