Citation

Tombs S, Whyte D. Pol. Pract. Health Saf. 2003; 1(1): 9-30.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Great Britain))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper examines the origins of the UK government's proposals for reform of the law of 'corporate manslaughter' and evaluates some of the possible outcomes. The paper begins by outlining the principal legal barriers to determining liability for manslaughter where the offender is a corporation, not least the doctrine of identification. It then goes on to discuss key common law developments in involuntary manslaughter cases involving corporations. This is followed by a discussion of the emergence, nature and progress of long-standing proposals for the introduction of new statutory offences regarding corporate killing, and an appraisal of the likely impact of these proposed legal changes. Finally, the paper sets out a series of policy recommendations and insists that the proposals must not be diluted any further by New Labour's relationship with private business interests.