Draft corporate manslaughter Bill published - finally

After years of waiting the government has published it's draft of the corporate manslaughter Bill, nine years after the Law Commission published its report in 1996 and five years since the Government published its first consultation document in 2000.

While it has been generally greeted as a positive move there are big problems with the bill as it does not cover all types of employer; only gives sanctions against companies, not individuals and the major sanctions can therefore only be financial penalties not imprisonment. This is regarded as the sanction currently missing from the law that would act as a real deterrent.

While the general election is likely to disrupt the progress of the Bill it is a commitment in the Labour Party's election manifesto.

For further information on the draft Bill visit the Centre for Corporate Accountability web site at:

http://www.corporateaccountability.org/updates/manslaughter/main.htm