A
renewed drive to establish the offence of corporate killing is to be launched
by ministers from the three main political parties.
Andrew
Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, is proposing amendments to the Criminal Justice
Bill, designed to get the issue back on the political agenda, and is being
backed by unions, safety organisations and fellow MPs.
The
Government has been promising to introduce the law, which will make it possible
to find corporate bodies guilty of manslaughter, since 1997.
Currently
a regulatory impact assessment of the proposed law is being carried out, and
Lord Bassam of Brighton, speaking in the House of Lords, said the Government
intends to table legislation as soon as it is finished.
The
changes are being backed by a raft of organisations – the TUC, Centre for
Corporate Accountability and Disaster Action are to launch a report on why the
new offence is necessary – and pressure groups formed in the wake of several
rail tragedies are increasing calls for change.
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