About Corporate Crime
Over the last ten years, the Government has passed a series of laws creating new corporate criminal offences - from corporate manslaughter, money laundering, bribery and insider dealing to environmental health and consumer protection. Keeping on top of the latest laws, cases and commentary is a challenge – but the stakes are higher than ever.
Bribery and corruption
Businesses facing prosecution for recent or historic bribery and corruption offences need quick, accurate, and practical advice on investigations and self-reporting. Our content offers unique practical insight.
Health and safety offences
Investigations into workplace accidents can be lengthy and complex. Our content provides practical advice on health and safety and gross negligence manslaughter offences, investigations and prosecutions.
Private prosecutions
Private prosecutions are on the rise, as businesses see it as a way to secure justice in financial crime cases. Our bespoke suite supports anyone seeking to bring and challenge private prosecutions.
Keeping up to date
As the scope and volume of corporate criminal offences increase, keeping track of changes is a constant challenge. Our weekly highlights and trackers keep you up to date with all the latest developments.
Topics We Cover
Latest Corporate Crime News
MLex: A UK accounting firm is the first to face prosecution for failure to prevent tax evasion, eight years after the offence was written into UK law....
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced new sentencing powers enabling judges to impose bans on offenders from attending pubs, concerts and sports...
A round-up of the latest trading standards prosecutions, including a home improvement trader jailed for fraudulent practices targeting vulnerable...
A round-up of the latest environmental enforcement, including a man prosecuted for operating an illegal waste site and failing to comply with court...
Law360, Expert analysis: The Crime and Policing Bill 2025, currently under consideration by the House of Lords, contains a dizzying array of proposals...
Latest Corporate Crime Practice Notes
Victim personal statements in criminal proceedingsVictim personal statements—guidanceGuidance on the making, form and use of a victim personal...
Sentencing procedure in the magistrates’ and Crown CourtsThis Practice Note explains sentencing procedure in the magistrates’ court and Crown Court in...
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)FORTHCOMING CHANGE: On 19 June 2025, the Data (Use and Access) Bill received Royal Assent, becoming the...
Vicarious liabilityWhat is vicarious liability?The general principle in criminal law is liability is personal not vicarious. This means that one...
Admissibility of hearsay evidence in criminal proceedings—statements in documentsStatements in business and other documentsSection 117 of the Criminal...
Latest Corporate Crime Precedents
Financial sanctions breach report formPlease supply as much information as possible about this suspected breach.If you require any help to complete...
Sanctions breach response form and action plan1General informationDate[Insert date]Name of person completing this response form and action plan[Insert...
Anti-bribery and corruption policy1Introduction1.1Bribery and corruption remain major issues in world trade, despite the many dedicated efforts to...
Product recall notice (or corrective announcement)IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING—PRODUCT [RECALL OR [ insert details of alternate corrective action (eg...
Sanctions breach—panic sheet1Consider seeking external adviceGiven the complicated nature of most sanctions regimes; the potential for offences to...
Latest Corporate Crime Q&As
Featured Corporate Crime content
Common assault and battery
Common assault and batteryThe offences of common assault and batteryTechnically, the offences of assault and battery are separate summary offences. An...
Affray
AffrayAffray is an offence created by the Public Order Act 1986 (POA 1986). It can be tried in either the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. The...
Self-defence
Self defenceSelf defenceSelf defence is an absolute defence based on the evidence which can apply in crimes committed by force. Section 76 of the...
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm
Assault occasioning actual bodily harmThe offence of actual bodily harmThe offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) can be tried in...
Criminal act or omission
Criminal act or omissionFor a person to be found guilty of a criminal offence it must be shown that they:•acted in a particular way, or•failed to act...
Strict liability
Strict liabilityStrict liability applies to offences for which the prosecution is not required to prove mens rea for one or more elements of the...
Recklessness in criminal cases
Recklessness in criminal casesThe subjective test for recklessnessCertain statutory and common law offences allow the prosecution to prove mens rea on...
Involuntary manslaughter
Involuntary manslaughterInvoluntary manslaughter—introductionManslaughter can be classified as either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter...
Common law offence of false imprisonment
Common law offence of false imprisonmentThe offence of false imprisonmentFalse imprisonment is a common law offence but it is more common as a civil...
Entrapment
Entrapment There is no defence of entrapment in English law but it is considered to be an abuse of the process of the court for state agents to lure a...
Causation and intervening acts in criminal cases
Causation and intervening acts in criminal casesCriminal offences are generally divided into two categories: •conduct crimes, and •result crimesA...
Causing fear or provocation of violence
Causing fear or provocation of violenceThe offence of causing fear or provocation of violenceThe offence of causing fear or provocation of violence...
Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent
Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intentThe offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intentWounding or causing grievous bodily harm...
Burden and standard of proof in criminal proceedings
Burden and standard of proof in criminal proceedingsThere are two kinds of ‘burden’ in criminal proceedings:•the legal burden, and•the evidential...
Time limits for commencing criminal proceedings
Time limits for commencing criminal proceedingsFor information on how criminal prosecutions are commenced in England and Wales, see Practice Notes:...
Specific and basic intent
Specific and basic intentIntention refers to the outcome sought by the defendant. Offences may be described as either ones of ‘basic intent’ or of...
Threats to kill
Threats to killThis Practice Note covers the offence of threats to kill. It looks at what the prosecution must prove and explores each of the elements...
Automatism
AutomatismDefinition of automatismAn act is done in a state of Automatism if it is done by the body without control by the mind, (eg it is a spasm or...
Associated legal terms
Attempt
An attempt may be prosecuted where the defendant has taken steps towards to committing an indictable offence, and those steps are more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence.
Defraud
To defraud is by deceit to induce a course of action.
Hare coursing
Hare coursing involves dogs being assessed for their skill in hunting and catching hares by the use of live hares.
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