Anti-corruption law delayed but business still on countdown

Posted 15/02/2011

The Bribery Act 2010 became law in April 2010, and was due to come into force in April 2011 but following lobbying from business organisations and others, has been set back for a second time.

The Act is intended to up-date and rationalise Britain’s law on the subject. Britain’s track record for tackling corruption is poor, and the decision not to prosecute British Aerospace over alleged bribery in the Middle East was called a scandal by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The country is bound by international treaty to tighten its anti-corruption laws and the Bribery Act will introduce one of the toughest regimes in the world.

The Government has now said it expects to defer implementation until later in the year, but companies are being urged to act to get procedures in place as, according to experts, the legislation is unlikely to be significantly amended at this stage.

The Act creates four offences. The first three are committed by individuals, the fourth can only be committed by a business, whether a company or partnership: