Labour Research February 2007

Features: Health and Safety Matters

CPS is rapped over failure to prosecute

The High Court has ordered the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to reconsider its decision not to prosecute a firm following the death of a young worker.

The GMB general union took up the case of 17-year-old Daniel Dennis, who fell to his death within a week of starting work with North-Eastern Roofing in 2003. Despite an inquest verdict of unlawful killing, the CPS did not prosecute the firm.

Mick Antoniw from law firm Thompsons said: "This is a landmark ruling as it's only the second case where the courts have interfered in a workplace death."