Punishments for corporate killers

Companies and organisations that kill people at work should face large fines and bad publicity, according to an influential government-appointed body.

In a consultation paper published last month, the Sentencing Advisory Panel (SAP) proposed that firms found guilty of corporate manslaughter should be hit with penalties of up to 10% of their annual turnover, depending on how badly they have behaved. And even those convicted of a first offence after pleading not guilty should pay 5% of their turnover, averaged over three years.

The SAP also wants to see publicity orders that name and shame guilty employers – by forcing them to take out advertisements publicising their convictions, for example.

But unions and safety campaigners argue that even larger fines are still not enough, and that other penalties are also necessary.

Responses to the consultation must be received by 7 February 2008. The consultation paper can be downloaded from www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk