Risk assessment and mitigation

Criminal Liability Risks

  • Personal liability for officials under duty of candour provisions
  • Corporate liability for misleading the public offence
  • Disciplinary action up to gross misconduct for candour failures
  • Reputational damage from public scrutiny of conduct

Mitigation Strategies

  1. Immediate Policy Review: Update all relevant policies and procedures
  2. Staff Training: Comprehensive education on new obligations
  3. Legal Team Briefing: Ensure legal representatives understand conduct requirements
  4. Crisis Communication Protocols: Establish clear procedures for public statements
  5. Compliance Monitoring: Regular audits of candour and transparency practices

Tel: 020 7628 7576

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This advisory is based on the current provisions of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill and associated guidance. Clients should seek specific legal advice on how these provisions may apply to their particular circumstances.