Corporate Killing Proposals Delayed Again?

The Press Association reported on Friday 8 November that corporate killing proposals are likely to be left out of the Queen's Speech. This has been met with disappointment by campaigners, although it has not yet been confirmed by the Home Office.

David Bergman, the Director of the Centre for Corporate Accountability, commented:

"The Labour Government committed itself to reform the law of manslaughter in October 1997. Since then, there have been over 2000 work-related deaths, as well as the Southall, Paddington and Potters Bar disasters.

"The Government's failure to enact this new offence has not only meant that dozens, if not hundreds of companies, have in the meantime escaped criminal accountability but has also ensured a continuing failure on the part of the criminal justice system to deter companies from acting dangerously in the future."

If the report is correct, then the proposals cannot realistically become law until 2004 at the earliest.
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