New manslaughter act nothing to fear, says Blunkett

by Richard Kilner

Story link: New manslaughter act nothing to fear, says Blunkett

The Corporate Manslaughter Act is nothing to fear for companies committed to protecting their employees and the public, David Blunkett MP said today, speaking at Aon’s seminar on the Act.

The Act will be introduced next April and there are those, including Aon’s Thomas Sheffield, who have some concerns it may end up promoting frivolous civil claims against directors.

Blunkett has been involved with the Act’s development for over three years, and believes it will simply act as a clarification and codification of what should already be good practice.

He went on to say that it will make plain the gap between former common law duties and the offence of gross negligence.

Previously individuals were held to account, but the Act will see companies held responsible for their lines of responsibility and decision making processes.

Blunkett thinks that there may be only a dozen cases per annum, but hopes that there are fewer than this.

Thomas Sheffield, Aon’s technical director, described how the Act will shift the emphasis from proving the negligence of a single individual, something that is notoriously difficult to prove, to looking at the roles played by individuals throughout an organisation.

Sheffield added that tha Act should not become a roadmap whereby frivolous actions against directors could become commonplace, and that directors should not become complacent and should check their legal cover.