As we reported last week the Ministry of Justice has published a government consultation into the introduction of Deferred Prosecution Agreements for corporations.

The proposal represents the most important change to corporate criminal law since the introduction of the Bribery Act.  New law introducing Deferred Prosecution Agreements is expected after the consultation closes.

Join us on July 5th to find out more at our Crown Place London Offices at 6pm.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to shape the process and have your views heard.  We shall be submitting views on so called DPA’s into the formal consultation process.

Critics argue Deferred Prosecution Agreements are not punishment enough for corporations found to have engaged in bribery.  We say that a few rotten apples should not result in putting a company out of business with innocent workers losing their jobs.

Whichever way you look at it the criminalisation of corporate law continues.

Deferred Prosecution Agreements have long been a feature in the United States where they are entered into by companies who admit corporate wrongdoing and hand over between millions to hundreds of millions of dollars for the privilege.

The formal government consultation follows an informal consultation which kicked off in our offices in October last year with the Director of the Serious Fraud Office and the Solicitor General.

The consultation envisages corporates could enter into so-called Deferred Prosecution Agreements along the lines that in return for complying with a range of conditions the prosecutor would defer a criminal prosecution.  At the end of the deferral period, the prosecutor is satisfied the organisation has fulfilled its obligations, there is no prosecution.

The government consultation will close on August 9.   A link to the Consultation is here. If you would like to attend please contact barry.vitou@pinsentmasons.com.