Corporate manslaughter fines could cripple colleges say experts

Colleges could be crippled by fines levied at them under the proposed legislation in the Corporate Manslaughter Act, one legal expert has claimed.

Findings from Eversheds, a law firm which represents many colleges in the UK, reveal that a fine of up to ten per cent of an institution's budget could be imposed if it was found guilty of breaking the Corporate Manslaughter Act.

Paul Verrico, a criminal defence solicitor for the firm, said that fines of this size could have serious implications for the future of a college or school.

However, he did add that the likelihood of responsible colleges being prosecuted would be thin.

Speaking to tes.oc.uk, Mr Verrico said: "The new act is very much like the police car in the rear view mirror. It acts as a warning for those organisations that flout safety laws."

"In reality, only the worst offenders are going to be pulled over, but the aim of the legislation is to make working life safer and improve compliance with existing laws," he concluded.

The new legislation is due to come into force in April.

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