Crime and Policing Act 2026 Legislation FAQs

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduces reforms addressing antisocial behaviour, retail and knife crime, violence against women and girls, serious and organised crime, and policing powers.

For organisations, Section 250 changes how criminal liability may be attributed when a senior manager commits an offence within the actual or apparent scope of their authority.

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and became law. Section 250 came into force on 29 June 2026.

Section 250 changes how criminal liability can be attributed to companies and partnerships. When a senior manager commits an offence while acting within the actual or apparent scope of their authority, the organisation also commits the offence, subject to a limited exception for certain conduct outside the UK.

Previously, for most offences, prosecutors generally had to identify someone who represented the organisation’s “directing mind and will”, usually a director or another person at the highest level, before their conduct could be attributed to the organisation. A statutory senior-manager attribution rule already applied to specified economic crimes.

Section 250 extends that rule to all criminal offences. A company or partnership may now commit an offence when a senior manager commits it while acting within the actual or apparent scope of their authority, even if that person is not a director or board member.

The rule does not apply to every offence committed by an employee or manager. The individual must meet the legal definition of a senior manager and must have been acting within the actual or apparent scope of their authority.

Section 250 applies to all bodies corporate and partnerships, regardless of size. This includes:

• Limited companies and other incorporated organisations.
• Limited liability partnerships.
• General and limited partnerships.
• Incorporated charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Sole traders are not covered in that capacity, and unincorporated associations are not covered unless they operate as partnerships. Overseas organisations may be covered where the underlying offence falls within UK criminal jurisdiction.

A senior manager is someone who plays a significant role in:

• Making decisions about how all or a substantial part of an organisation’s activities are managed or organised; or
• Managing or organising all or a substantial part of those activities.

The definition is based on responsibilities and authority, not job title. It may include directors, regional or operational leaders, heads of business units and others with significant control over part of the organisation. Not every person with “manager” in their title will meet the definition.

No. Whether someone is a senior manager depends on their actual responsibilities, decision-making authority and control over all or a substantial part of the organisation’s activities.

Someone may meet the definition without having “senior manager” in their title, while another person with a management title may not.

“Actual authority” means the powers and responsibilities formally or genuinely given to a senior manager. “Apparent authority” means the authority they appear to have based on their position, responsibilities or how the organisation presents their role to others.

Section 250 applies when the offence is committed within that actual or apparent authority. Conduct that is entirely unrelated to the manager’s organisational authority would not normally meet this requirement.

Section 250 does not create new health and safety duties. It changes how an offence committed by a senior manager can also make the organisation criminally liable.

For example, a senior manager might knowingly allow unsafe work to continue, ignore repeated reports of a serious risk or authorise work without suitable controls. Where that conduct amounts to an offence and occurs within their actual or apparent authority, the organisation may also commit the offence.

Investigators may examine decisions about staffing, resources, maintenance, supervision and responses to reported risks. Existing legal standards, including the requirement to take reasonably practicable steps, continue to apply.

Read our guide to the Crime and Policing Act 2026 and health and safety for more information.

Section 250 does not change health and safety duties requiring organisations to reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Organisations can demonstrate compliance through evidence that risks were identified and suitable measures were taken to prevent harm.

Evidence may include current risk assessments, safe systems of work, training and supervision records, maintenance records, audit findings and completed corrective actions.

However, Section 250 does not provide a separate defence based on having reasonable, adequate or effective procedures. Robust policies and records may help demonstrate compliance with existing health and safety duties, but they will not automatically prevent liability arising from the criminal conduct of a senior manager.

Under Section 250, an organisation may also be prosecuted when a senior manager commits an offence while acting within their actual or apparent authority. This could include authorising unsafe work, knowingly allowing serious risks to continue or failing to act on repeated warnings where this amounts to a criminal offence.

Organisations should keep clear records of significant health and safety decisions, risk assessments, reported concerns, incident investigations, audits and corrective actions. Records should show what was identified, who made or approved decisions, what action was taken and whether it was completed and reviewed.

Organisations should identify who may meet the definition of a senior manager and document their responsibilities, delegated authority and reporting lines. They should review how serious risks, incidents and resource concerns are escalated, ensure overdue actions are followed up and record significant decisions, including who made them and the evidence considered.

Risk assessments, safe systems of work, training, supervision and audit arrangements should also be checked to confirm they are implemented and monitored in practice.

Senior managers should receive training on Section 250 and the health and safety responsibilities relevant to their decisions.