Call us 0333 370 4333
29/07/19

Sentencing Guidelines | Food Safety & Hygiene Offences | Kangs Solicitors

Share

On the 1st February 2016, The Sentencing Council’s Guidelines (‘the guideline’) covering Food Safety and Hygiene Offences were published. 

The guideline contains four categories of culpability and three categories of harm.  There is one sentencing table for individuals and one for organisations which is based on size.  

In April 2019, the Sentencing Council published an assessment report of the impact of the guideline. 

Impact on Organisations | Kangs Food Safety and Hygiene Solicitors

  • Between 2013 and 2016 the number of organisations prosecuted and ultimately sentenced for food safety and hygiene offences more than doubled. 
  • The vast majority of offences committed by organisations are sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court and attract a financial penalty.
  • A comparison of the level of fines imposed post and pre guidelines show that the mean fine amount has increased from £2,200 to £7,100, with the median increasing from £1,500 to £2,500.
  • The proportion of organisations receiving higher financial penalties has increased significantly from 11% to 34%. 

Fine amounts imposed on organizations sentenced for food safety and hygiene offences covered by the guideline, 10 months pre guideline compared with 10 months post-guideline: 

image

Impact On Individuals | Environmental Health Solicitors

  • The number of individuals prosecuted for food safety and hygiene offences has increased in recent years
  • Most offences are sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court
  • In 2017, 92% of offences were punished by way of a fine with 3% of defendants receiving a suspended sentence, 2% a community order and less than 1% an immediate custodial sentence
  • The impact of the guideline for individuals has been relatively minimal.  The mean fine increased from approximately £930 to £1,300, with the median increasing from £500 to £520.  The percentage of individuals receiving a fine in excess of £2,000 increased from 13% to 17%

Fine amounts imposed on adult offenders sentenced for food safety and hygiene offences covered by the guideline, 10 months pre-guideline compared with 10 months post-guideline:

image 1

How Can We Help? | Kangs National Food Safety & Hygiene Solicitors

Early expert, advice and assistance is imperative in matters concerning food and hygiene safety in order to protect the business and individuals affected from the outset as far as circumstances permit.

Offences of this nature, if proven, can, as shown above, result in extremely heavy fines, significant reputational damage and custodial sentences.

The team at Kangs Solicitors guides individuals and organisations through the entire process of an investigation/prosecution while maintaining a dialogue with the investigating authorities and safeguarding the interests of our clients at each stage in the procedure.

Please feel free to contact our Team through any of the Solicitors named below who will be happy to provide you with some initial advice and assistance.

Suki Randhawa
srandhawa@kangssolicitors.co.uk
0121 449 9888 | 020 7936 6396 | 07989 521210

John Veale
jveale@kangssolicitors.co.uk
0121 449 9888 | 07989 521210

Health & Safety, Regulatory
As can be seen from reports appearing in previous articles on this website, breaches of Health and Safety Law are regularly attracting severe sentences for both the defaulting companies and their directors. John Veale of Kangs Solicitors Comments generally. Sentencing Examples Company director Companies Court Sentencing Guidelines Directors/individuals Companies Individuals, when tried on indictment can […]
16/12/19
Environment Agency, Regulatory
Kangs Solicitors has successfully represented a client facing allegations of contraventions of Section 33 Environment Protection Act 1990 and Regulation 38(1) Environmental Permitting Act (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 arising from an investigation conducted by the Environment Agency which commenced in December 2014. John Veale of Kangs Solicitors reports upon the circumstances. The Circumstances | […]
02/12/19
Health & Safety, Regulatory
Aylesbury Crown Court has imposed a substantial fine upon a company (‘the company’) as the result of a number of its employees having suffered Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (‘HAVS’).       Amandeep Murria of Kangs Solicitors sets out the circumstances. The Circumstances | Kangs Solicitors Health and Safety Team The Health & Safety Executive conducted a […]
22/11/19

Get in touch

Need legal assistance? Contact our experienced team for prompt and professional support.
Your privacy is important to us and all details you share will be kept confidential.
Old map of Birmingham