Great expectations: the UK Bribery Act 2010

The UK’s Bribery Act sets a new international standard in stringency, covering both public and private sector disbursements, with no exception for facilitation payments as well as a corporate offence of failing to prevent bribery. Ian Trumper of FTI Consulting and Robert Barrington of Transparency International (UK), examine the legislation and its effects in detail.

Robert Barrington (+44 (0)20 7785 6356, robert.barrington@transparency.org.uk) is Director of External Affairs,Transparency International UK.

The new Bribery Act, which received Royal Assent in the dying days of the last Parliament, is the most significant piece of legislation in the area of fraud and corruption since the passing of the anti money laundering legislation and the Fraud Act 2006 and is the most stringent legislation of its type in the world.