| NEW
IN |
|
| Dec
2003 |
Press:
Crown Immunity for Manslaughter Offences Under
Challenge.
Any reform to the law of manslaughter must apply
to all employing organisations - including Crown
Bodies, and not just companies - in order for
the Government to avoid being in violation of
its human rights obligations according to a
legal opinion produced by human rights lawyers
at Matrix.
Click
Here (3 Dec 2003)
|
| Nov 2003 |
Press: Queen's
Speech - Corporate Killing Legislation?
To read what the CCA understands to be the situation
about the Government's intention to reform the
law of manslaughter, and to see up-to-date details
of all work-related manslaughter convictions,
acquittals and on-going cases - including a
new work-related manslaughter prosecution that
starts at the Old Bailey on Tuesday 25th November.
Click
Here (24 Nov 2003)
|
| Oct
2003 |
Press:
HSC to decide today whether the law should
impose safety duties on company directors .
The Health and Safety Commission is meeting
today (Tuesday, 14th October) to decide whether
company directors should be required in law
to take reasonable steps to ensure that their
company is complying with health and safety
law.
Click
Here (13 October)
|
Press:
"Corporate Criminal Accountability
Gap in Scotland"
- New Research
Only
two company directors/senior managers in Scotland
have been convicted of health and safety offences
since April 1999 according to research, conducted
by the Centre for Corporate Accountability.
This compares with 27 directors /senior managers
convicted in England and Wales of health and
safety offences over the same period.
Click
Here (13 October)
|
New
Report shows Sharp Enforcement Differences between
Local Authorities
The CCA has undertaken an analysis of how different
local authorities enforce health and safety
law which shows wide divergences in the levels
of inspection and investigation between the
different local authorities. The report, "Safety
Lottery: How the Level of Enforcement of Health
and Safety Depends on Where you Work,"
is published by the public section union, UNISON,
and the CCA.
Click Here
(7 October)
|
| Aug
2003 |
CCA
SEEKS NEW LEGAL CASEWORKER
An exciting opportunity exists for a lawyer,
or caseworker, to run the CCA's highly regarded
'Work-Related-Death Advice Service'. The WRDAS
is concerned with investigation and prosecution
issues that arise following a work-related death. You
will be engaged in the assessment of cases involving
deaths (and injuries) and will work directly
with bereaved families and relevant public bodies
including the police, the Health and SafetyExecutive
and Crown Prosecution Service. Closing Date
22 September 2003.
Click
Here for more information
|
New
HSE Guidance on the Prosecution of Individuals
This page is a briefing on the
prosecution of individuals for health and safety
offences and in particular looks at guidance that
the HSE has produced for its inspectors in July
2003. This is the first time that the HSE has
produced comprehensive guidance to its inspectors
on this issue and it is an important document.
Click Here
(19 Aug 2003) |
|
New
HSE Guidance on the Investigation of Individuals
This
page looks at the guidance HSE inspectors have
been given in relation to the investigation
of individuals - with particular reference to
directors and managers.
Click
Here (19 Aug 2003)
|
HSE's
New Policy on the investigation of Major Injuries.
The
HSE is planning to reduce the number of major
injuries that its inspectors will investigate,
and the amount of time that its inspectors will
spend on the investigations that they do carry
out. These plans are contained in new instructions
that the HSE have sent to its inspectors. The
HSE believes that the organisation has become
too focused on the investigation of deaths, injuries
and other incidents and should "restore a
largely preventative focus."
Click
Here (12 August 2003) |
| July
2003 |
SCOTLAND
... SCOTLAND ... SCOTLAND ... SCOTLAND
FIRST MAJOR CONFERENCE ON
'SAFETY
AND CORPORATE CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABILITY'
Ministers from the Scottish Executive and Westminster,
Crown Office officials, trade unions, employer
organisations, the Health and Safety Executive,
lawyers, academics and bereaved families are
all speaking at the CCA's conference on 'Safety
and Corporate Criminal Accountability' which
is being held in Glasgow on Thursday
23 Oct 2003.
Click
Here for more details
|
|
Press:
Crown Prosecution Service to Reconsider Manslaughter
charges Relaing to Avonmouth Deaths
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will now have
to reconsider its decision not to prosecute any
individuals for manslaughter following yesterday's
inquest verdict of 'unlawful killing' which concerned
the deaths of four mean who fell 30 metres from
the Avonmouth bridge in September 1999.
Click
Here (22 Jul 2003) |
| |
Press:
Judges
Order New Inquest
The
High Court ruled on Monday 21 July 2003 that there
should be a new inquest into the death of Stephane
Aineto - a 28 year old French man who was killed
in Brighton in July 2001 when he was run over
by a refuse truck driven on Council business.
The inquest must take place in front of a jury
Click
Here (21 July 2003) |
|
Press:
CCA RESPONSE TO CPS DECISION TO PROSECUTE OVER
HATFIELD DISASTER
The decision to prosecute two large companies
over the Hatfield disaster is very significant.
It is very rare for the Crown Prosecution Service
to prosecute a large company for manslaughter.
There have only ever been a handful of companies
convicted of manslaughter - all of which have
been small.
Click
Here |
|
RECRUITMENT
OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR (2.5 Day/Week)
One year contract:- renewable
subject to securing of further funding
The CCA is recruiting a part-time Deputy Director
for one year
Closing
Date for applications: 1 August 2003
If you would like further details and to download
the application forms
Click Here
|
|
Press:
High Court gives permission for legal
challenge over HSE's Failure to prosecute following
death of a 12 year old boy
A decision by the Health and Safety Executive
not to prosecute following the death of a twelve
year old boy will now be subject to a 'judicial
review' before the High Court following a ruling
by Mr Justice Moses. The ruling was given following
legal proceedings issued by Christian Khan solicitors
on behalf of Karen Pullen, the boys mother.
Click
Here
|
| June
2003 |
CONFERENCE
ON 'LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORPORATE CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABILY'.
London, 7 July 2003
Government ministers, MPs from all main political
parties, trade unions, employer organisations,
bereaved families and the Health and Safety Executive
are all speaking at the CCA/TUC's 3rd joint conference
on 'Law Enforcement and Corporate Criminal Accountability',
being held in London on Monday 7 July 2003
Click Here |
| |
Publication
of Draft Bills on 'Corporate Killing' and 'Directors
Duties'
As part of the debate on the Government's proposals
to create a new offence of Corporate Killing and
to impose Duties upon Company Directors, the CCA
has drafted two Bills.
Click Here
(17 June) |
| |
HSE's
Investigation Procedures Available
The CCA has put on its website the Health and
Safety Executive's detailed procedures for undertaking
investigations into deaths, injuries and other
incidents. These procedures are not available
on any other website.
Click
Here (13 June)
|
| |
News
Update: Company Director sentenced today after
pleading guilty to health and safety offences
which resulted in death
Moores Timber Merchants Ltd and its director Michael
Broadbent will be sentenced today at Manchester
Crown Court after they pleaded guilty earlier
this week to health and safety offences which
resulted in the death of 20 year Mohammed Omar
Akhtar.
Click
Here (12 June) |
| |
Deaths
from April 2001, County by County
The CCA has set up a new page that provides details
of work-related deaths, county by county. This
is the only website to obtain these details. Information
on seven Counties are now available: Bedfordshire,
Berkshire, Bridgend, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire,
Carmathenshire, West Midlands.
Click Here
(12 June) |
|
News
Update : Transco Homicide Prosecution Collapses
Scotland's Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed
'culpable homicide' charges against Transco PLC,
the gas supply company, relating to the deaths
of four people who died on December 22, 1999 when
a massive explosion destroyed a
family
house in Larkhall.
Click
Here
|
| May
2003 |
Update
Page: "Government's Plans on Reform to the
law of Manslaughter"
This page sets out 'where the Government is now'
with its
plans to reform the law of manslaughter, and what
the plans actually are. This page is updated whenever
there are any developments,
Click
Here |
| |
Press:
15
Directors Convicted of Health and Safety Offences
Fifteen people who are either company directors
or very senior managers have been convicted of
health and safety offences between April 1999
and January 2003, according to research conducted
by the CCA. These convictions, following offences
that were committed between October 1996 and October
2001, resulted in the directors/ senior managers
receiving an average fine of £2,656. None
were sent to prison.
Click
Here |
|
Press:
CCA
Comment on Guardian story: 'Firms Face Corporate
Killing Law"
Click
Here |
| |
News
from CCA 'Work-Related Death Monitoring Project'
14 construction
workers have been killed in the last six weeks
according to research by the CCA's 'Work-Related
Death Monitoring Project'.
Click
Here |
|
Briefing:
HSE, the Police and compliance with Health and
Safety Law
A new detailed briefing on the role of the Health
and Safety
Executive in enforcing health and safety law on
the Police Service. This details:
• the obligations upon the Police Service
in relation to
ensuring the safety of police officers and members
of the public;
• guidance given by the HSE to its inspectors
in ensuring that the Police Service is complying
with the law;
• which deaths and injuries to employees
and members of
the public should be reported to the HSE;
• when should the HSE investigate these
incidents and the workingpractices of the police
Click Here
|
| April
2003 |
RECRUITMENT
OF PART-TIME 'OFFICE MANAGER'
(Six Month contract: Maternity Cover)
The
CCA is recruiting a part-time office manager
for six months to replace our current manager
who will shortly be taking maternity leave
Closing
Date: 16th May 2003
If you would like further details and to download
the application forms
Click Here
|
| |
Press
Release: National Audit Office to hold
Inquiry into the Work of the HSE
The National Audit Office (NAO) is undertaking
an inquiry into the role of the Health and Safety
Executive in improving health and safety in the
Construction Industry. This is the first inquiry
by the NAO into the HSE for 9 years.
Click
Here (14 April 2003) |
|
CONFERENCE
ON 'LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORPORATE CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABILY'.
London, 7 July 2003
Government ministers, MPs from all main political
parties, trade unions, employer organisations,
bereaved families and the Health and Safety Executive
are all speaking at the CCA/TUC's 3rd joint conference
on 'Law Enforcement and Corporate Criminal Accountability',
being held in London on Monday 7 July 2003
Click Here |
| March
2003 |
Briefing
- Health and Safety (Offences) Bill
A briefing on Laurie Quinn MP' private members
bill which would amend the powers that the courts
have in sentencing organisations and individuals
to health and safety offences. The bill has Government
support.
Click Here
|
Briefing
- New Procedures for the Investigation of Work-Related
Deaths
A briefing on the new 'Protocol of Liaison on
Work-Related Deaths' which states that the police
should be involved in a manslaughter investigation
right from the start and only stop when 'it becomes
apparent during the investigation that there is
insufficient evidence" that manslaughter
has been committed. There are other significant
changes.
Click Here
|
Briefing
- Directors Duties on Safety
A new briefing on the obligations of company directors
towards ensuring the safety of their company.
What does the law say? Why is the conduct of directors
important? Why should duties be imposed? What
has the Government said about it?
Click Here
|
Information
Note- forthcoming Judicial Review against CPS
On Tuesday 18 March 2003, the High Court begins
a two day hearing concerning whether a decision
by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute
Salford City Council for the manslaughter of
a 30 year old man in the Council's care, was
lawful. It is the first time that a challenge
has ever been made against the CPS concerning
a failure to prosecute a council for manslaughter.
Click
Here
|
Winter
2003 Edition of 'Corporate Crime Update'
Focuses on Challenging Government Decisions.
Edition includes: HSE Budget Cut • Widow
challenges HSE for information • Coroner
forced to Hold Inquest • Family seeks
new Inquest • Family Challenges CPS
failure to Prosecute Council for Manslaughter
• how to make a challenge • manslaughter
update
Click Here
|
New
Report on 'Corporate Killing'
The
CCA, Disaster Action and the TUC have published
a new report on the office of Corporate killing
Click
Here to download (word)
Click here
to read more on law of manslaughter
|
House
of Lords Debate on Corporate Killing (20 Feb)
"The Government are committed to introducing
legislation to increase corporate liability
for manslaughter. We are currently conducting
a regulatory impact assessment. This is a routine
measure which is undertaken on all new proposals.
We shall legislate when parliamentary time allows."
Click Here
|
| Feb
2003 |
Press
Release: Solicitor
General gives permission for legal challenge
against coroner over work-related death
The Solicitor General, the Rt Hon Harriet Harman
QC MP, has given her permission this week for
a second legal challenge to be brought in relation
to the inquest into the death of Stephane Aineto.
Click
Here (20
Feb)
|
Press
Release: HSE Report says that new offence
of 'Corporate Killing' will improve safety and
increase accountability.
A
report published this week by the HSE states
that the new corporate manslaughter legislation,
"should act as a powerful deterrence to
help prevent needless injuries and deaths whilst
at the same time punishing the grossly negligent."
Click
Here (19 Feb)
|
Briefing
- HSE's Policy on Disclosure of Information
A new detailed advice page setting out HSE's
policy on disclosure of information and what
information the HSE will and will not provide
to members of the public and how to obtain the
information.
Click Here
|
Press
Release: Widow Challenges Failure by
HSE to Prosecute Directors
Moira Martin, the wife of David Martin, who
was crushed to death in December 2000, is challenging
the failure by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) to provide proper reasons for its decision
not to prosecute a company director over her
husband's death.
Click
Here (18
Feb)
|
| Jan
2003 |
Ombudsman's
Reports concerning complaints against the HSE
CCA Website publishes
ten years of Ombudsmans' reports concerning
the HSE
Click
Here
|
Briefing
- Complaining about Decisions made by Government
Bodies
New detailed advice on how the public can complain
about the conduct of the HSE, police, Local
Authorities, and CPS
Click Here
|
