UK Bribery Act 2010 - Adequate Procedures

Introduction

As the UK Bribery Act will come into force in April 2011, corporate entities (including partnerships) which carry on part of their business in the UK need to ensure that by that date they have in place adequate procedures which may provide a defence to the strict liability offence of failure to prevent bribery.

On 14 September 2010 the UK Ministry of Justice (MOJ) launched its consultation on the form and content of the proposed guidance about procedures which commercial organisations can put in place to prevent bribery. The consultation period will end on 8 November 2010 and the government proposes to publish the guidance under section 9 of the Act early in the New Year.