11 July 2003
Six senior managers for Network Rail and Balfour Beatty and the firms that employed them have been charged with manslaughter over the Hatfield rail crash that killed four people.
The six men and the two companies are all facing four counts of manslaughter, one for each of the victims who died in the crash, caused by a broken rail, in October 2000.
They have also been charged with gross negligence, and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
David Bergman, director of lobby group the Centre for Corporate Accountability, said the decision to bring charges was 'very significant'.
According to CCA research, it is only the third time that a large company has been prosecuted for manslaughter. The previous two cases, against P&O European Ferries after the Zeebrugge ferry disaster and Great Western Railways after the Southall rail crash, both failed.
'It is very rare for the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute a large company for manslaughter,' Bergman said. 'It is difficult to prosecute directors or senior managers of large companies, even though there may be some very serious failings on the part of the company or individuals.'
The managers for Railtrack, Network Rail's predecessor body, who have been charged are: Alistair Cook, Sean Fugill, Keith Lea and Charles Pollard. The Balfour Beatty employees are Nicholas Jeffries and Anthony Walker. All of them are due to appear in court on July 14.
Both companies immediately responded to the prosecutions, brought on July 9, by insisting they would defend themselves and their employees vigorously.
Network Rail said in a statement: 'We believe that our employees conduct their duties to the best of their abilities with the sole intention of delivering a safe, reliable and efficient railway network.'
Balfour Beatty said: 'The charge of manslaughter against our maintenance business will be firmly defended as we see no plausible basis for it in law or on the evidence.
'The individuals charged will have the company's fullest support in their defence of the charges against them.'
A further six executives from the companies, including former Railtrack chief executive Gerald Corbett, have been summonsed for an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Announcing the decision to recommend the charges, CPS crown prosecutor Andrew Faiers said: 'The CPS has been closely involved from the outset of the police investigation, advising the investigators and reviewing the substantial evidence which has led to today's charges.'
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