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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Corporate homicide law needs changed says charity

This news post is about 3 years old
 

Campaign is in response to Cameron House Hotel tragedy

A Scottish health and safety charity is backing a campaign for a full inquiry into the Cameron House Hotel fire which left a young couple dead.

Scottish Hazards has written to Lord Advocate James Wolffe supporting calls for a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the deaths of Richard Dyson and Simon Midgley who died in the fire.

The charity’s Louise Adamson says unanswered questions still remain and is demanding the Crown Office reveal why it didn’t charge the firm under different laws.

No organisation has been charged under corporate homicide legislation in Scotland since it was introduced in 2013, a fact which proves the law does not work, says Adamson.

Simon’s mum, Jane Midgley (both pictured above), feels justice has not been served and says an FAI would address questions, including why the five-star hotel wasn’t shut down after ignoring fire warnings.

Louise, trustee of Scottish Hazards, said: “We support Jane’s calls for an FAI and have written to the Lord Advocate outlining that and calling for an explanation of what charges were considered under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act.

“We believe that not a single charge has yet been laid under this piece of legislation since its commencement.

“Jane has come to think that the justice system was against her but in fact, the failings are much wider than that.

“The system fails families as a whole. Until businesses are charged with offences that fit the crime, we are not going to see a reduction in work place fatalities in Scotland.”

The charity is also backing calls for a Culpable Homicide (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Claire Baker MSP, which seeks to create a statutory offence of culpable homicide arising where death is caused recklessly or by gross negligence.