What is the impact of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 on corporate liability for the criminal acts of senior managers?

Under s.250 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, if a senior manager commits a criminal offence while acting within the scope of their actual or apparent authority, the organisation is also liable for the offence. Liability under the Act applies to bodies corporate and partnerships.

"Senior manager" is defined widely and covers anyone who plays a significant role in making decisions about how the organisation's activities should be managed, or in managing the activities themselves.

The provisions extend corporate liability to all criminal offences, not only economic crimes. This would include data protection and environmental crimes, for example.

Organisations cannot defend a prosecution by arguing that they had reasonable procedures in place to prevent the offence.

Section 250 came into force on 29 June 2026.