MEETING ON THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTON OF WORK-RELATED DEATHS

The Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA) and RoadPeace invite you to a meeting to discuss: 

“Protocol of Liaison on Work-related Deaths”

The Protocol sets out:

• 	the relationship between the police and the Health and Safety Executive  (HSE) in the investigation of work-related deaths;
• 	the role of the police in any manslaughter investigation;
•  the nature of HSE’s involvement in the manslaughter investigation;
• 	the relationship between the Crown Prosecution Service and the HSE in the prosecution of manslaughter and health and safety offences.

This meeting is in response to an initiative by the National Liaison Committee - the body which oversees the operation of the protocol - which is undertaking a review of the protocol (see attached letter). Responses are required by 28 February.

The meeting will bring together safety organisations, trade unions, lawyers, bereaved families, victim charities and others to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the current protocol and how it can be improved

At:  	Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
The County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
[Westminster underground station Jubilee, District and Circle line. County Hall is a short walk  across Westminster Bridge]

On:  	Tuesday, 19 February 2002
   
At:	 	10 am – 1 pm				[Coffee/Tea: 9.45 am]
     
A briefing will be provided at the meeting. To download a copy of the protocol:
http://www.corporateaccountability.org/research_and_briefings/criminal_offences/manslaghter_investigations.htm

David Bergman
On behalf of CCA and RoadPeace

RSVP: Centre for Corporate Accountability
     • Sugar Munthali - 020 7490 4494
     • info@corporateaccountability.org

From the National Liaison Committee, Protocol of Liaison on Work-Related Deaths

Dear Sirs

WORK-RELATED DEATHS – PROTOCOL FOR LIAISON

In 1998 the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) collaborated to develop a protocol which outlined an agreed procedure for liaison between the three signatories where there is a work-related death.

The National Liaison Committee (NLC) was formed to oversee the operation of the protocol and this, in turn, created Regional Liaison Committees to manage local relationships.

The CPS is the current chair of the NLC, and it has been agreed that during its term of office the protocol should be reviewed in order to ascertain if it meets current needs, informed by experience, and to bring it up to date with the changes in operational practice that have taken place since 1998.

I have been asked by the NLC to take forward the review, and am writing to selected organisations that may have occasion to use or refer to the existing protocol inviting observations about its operation from the perspective of that organisation.

I would very much appreciate receiving your comments.

You may write to the above address, or e-mail me at protocolreview-nlc@hse.gsi.gov.uk, a site that has been established as part of the public consultation exercise.

Thank you for your assistance in this important initiative.

Yours faithfully

N J Masters
Secretary to the National Liaison Committee