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New sentencing guidelines could see businesses entering early pleas to avoid £20m fines, says health and safety expert
The courts have been warned to expect a 'barrage' of guilty pleas in health and safety cases following the publication of new guidelines from the Sentencing Council, a specialist has advised.
The new guidelines come into effect on 1 February 2016. They introduce a wider range of fines for offences and an increase in the maximum amounts that can be imposed on organisations.
Current guidance indicates the starting point for a corporate manslaughter offence should be £500,000. However, the new guidelines increase the maximum fine to £20m.
Individual company directors found guilty of consent, connivance, or ...
