New Sentencing Guidelines on Health and Safety

New Sentencing Guidelines on HSE

The Sentencing Council has published proposed guidelines on sentencing on health and safety issues on the 13th November 2014 to help judges and magistrates deal proportionately with offences.

These new guidelines will be looking at higher level offences and will include all types of businesses and individuals.

It will provide specific guidance on sentencing for food safety offences and non-fatal health and safety offences.

The purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that sentences are proportionate to the seriousness of the offence taking into account financial means of the offender, which will be based on turnover.

The Council want to ensure that sentences punish and deter more companies from breaking health and safety requirements.

This guidance is subject to consultation until the 18th February 2015.

For more information please see www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk