MANAGING directors of companies whose drivers are involved in road accidents could end up in court on manslaughter charges. Giving this warning, John Owen, deputy chief constable of North Wales Police, says there is an increasing attitude of zero tolerance to firms that neglect to ensure the safety of employees while driving.

'A company vehicle is little other than an extension of the workplace and, as such, the general principles of safe working practices ought not to be ignored. And if a company's operating practices are such that they can be shown to have contributed to the cause of a collision, and that this could have been foreseen, then there must be consequences for individuals within that company. We are talking about manslaughter charges.'

Owen is the second police officer in as many weeks to warn of the serious consequences to companies if they neglect risk management strategies. Insp Ian Debbage, of Essex Police, told an ACFO conference that he would use every means at his disposal to establish if corporate liability was suspected.