Corporate convictions

Convictions are rare for corporate manslaughter despite an increase in prosecutions for work-related deaths in the last four years, according to new research.

The Centre for Corporate Accountability found that the Crown Prosecution Service had completed 10 prosecutions of business owners and company directors for manslaughter since April 1998 - equalling the total for the preceding 50 years. However, only three of the completed 10 cases resulted in convictions.

The CCA newsletter can be ordered by phoning 0207 4904494.

* Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Council launched its report, Corporate Killers in Wandsworth last month. The report highlights the cases of Olatunji Owolabi and Michael Mungovan, both killed at work in Wandsworth, and describes the trades council's campaign to unionise agency and construction workers in the borough.

The report can be obtained from the trades council by phoning 0208 6824224.