Join us in a mock trial, where you as a member of our jury will decide whether the actions of an individual and an organisation have resulted in the commission of a criminal offence. Hear the evidence and consider whether the actions of individuals are to blame, or will a failing by the organisation in how it managed its systems and processes be to blame?

Mock trial scenario: 

In October 2020, there was an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in the town of Manderley. As a result of this outbreak, three people died and ten were rendered very poorly. The source of the bacteria was found to be the water system for the Winter Flats owned and operated by Manderley Council. The Winter Flats are a social housing development. It consists of 15 floors with a community area on the ground floor where a day centre is held. The day centre operates for four days a week, with two days for elderly people and two days for those with disabilities. In the flats there are a range of occupants including young families, vulnerable individuals and the elderly. One of the senior managers in Manderley Council was E Danvers who was in the facilities management division.

Join us in our mock court to hear the trial of Manderley Council and E Danvers. You will take the role of jury and decide, once you’ve heard the evidence, whether you believe the defendants are innocent or guilty.

Following the mock trial, we will undertake another exercise, where we assume the verdict was guilty (but don’t let that influence your previous deliberations).

How big will the fine be for the Council, and will you send E Danvers to prison?

This is a unique and essential opportunity for everyone with responsibility for health and safety matters to experience a trial situation – in a safe and secure place.

Delegates will experience at first hand and understand how:

• Health and safety law is enforced in criminal courts
• Courts sentence health and safety offences for individuals and organisations
• We can use the learning from criminal health and safety cases to assist organisations in delivering behavioural safety change in their organisations.

Essential for:

• Senior managers and executives
• Legal teams
• Anyone involved in health and safety compliance.

10:00 Registration and refreshments   

10:30 Welcome from the Chair, housekeeping and introduction

10:35  Introduction to the trial – what you need to know

11:00  Trial starts with the prosecution opening

12:15 Lunch

13:00  Defence starts

14:00  Judges summing up

14:15  Break

14:30 Deliberations by the jury/sentencing exercise    

15:30  Q&A and closing comments    

15:45  Close

Matthew Breakell, Partner, DAC Beachcroft

Matthew specialises in advising in relation to corporate criminal investigations and defending prosecutions brought by regulatory agencies such as the Health and Safety Executive, Local Authority, Environment Agency, Police and CQC.

He has extensive experience in caution interviews including representing company directors at the police station in relation to corporate manslaughter investigations; and assisting companies through HSE/Local Authority investigations, caution interviews and prosecutions.

Matthew also represents companies and organisations facing coroners’ inquests as a result of fatal accidents at work or being associated with the accident, guiding them through the process and providing representation at the inquest.

Matthew has advised clients with regard to high profile fatal accident investigations, falls from height, legionella, trappings and crushing in machinery, and other work-related accidents.

Matthew also assists organisations, in particular home care providers and care homes with investigations following deaths and provides representation at inquests as well as guidance through the investigatory process.

Matthew is a member of IOSH and a committee member for the Humber Branch.

If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

Cancellations must be made in writing, and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited