Corporate liability for economic crime: call for evidence

Results updated 3 Nov 2020

The government examined the case for reform of the law on corporate liability for economic crime by commencing an open call for evidence.

The call for evidence was concerned with criminal offences designed to punish and prevent economic crimes such as fraud, false accounting and money laundering when committed on behalf or in the name of companies.

It sought evidence on the extent to which the identification doctrine is deficient as a tool for effective enforcement of the criminal law against large modern companies.

It surveyed the options for reform of the law, whether reform is needed, asked for views as to suitability and the scope that would be most effective, the advantages and disadvantages of adoption and implications of change, particularly in terms of the costs to businesses associated with the implementation of prevention procedures.

After careful consideration and a further evidence gathering exercise, the government has concluded that the evidence submitted was inconclusive. Further work is required before considering any change to the law and the Government has commissioned an expert review by the Law Commission.

Details on the outcome of the Call for Evidence, the work undertaken since and the next steps are provided in the response paper.

Files:

• corporate-liability-economic-crime-call-evidence-government-response.pdf, 373.9 KB (PDF document)