Gross Negligence Manslaughter
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This prosecution guidance explains the offence of gross negligence manslaughter (GNM), detailing the elements required to establish a case, such as the duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and the grossness of the negligence. It is applicable in contexts like medical treatment, workplace incidents, and death in custody. The guidance provides insights into evidential requirements and how to assess culpability.
Key points
- GNM is a common law offence resulting from a grossly negligent act leading to death.
- A duty of care must exist between the defendant and the deceased.
- The prosecution must establish causation linking the negligent act to the death.
- The breach of duty must be deemed gross, indicating a significant departure from expected standards.
- The risk of death must be serious and obvious to a reasonably prudent person at the time of the breach.
- Sentencing can lead to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Public-interest factors
- Protecting the public from grossly negligent acts.
- Ensuring accountability for professional conduct in medical and workplace settings.
- Preventing future incidents that may lead to death.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.