UK BRIBERY ACT NOW IN FORCE
The Bribery Act (the Act) came into force on 1
July 2011.
Earlier this year The Ministry of Justice published guidance for
organisations to follow in order to ensure compliance with the Act.
The guidance is intended to help commercial organisations of all
sizes and sectors understand what sorts of procedures they should
put in place to prevent bribery. The guidance is designed to be of
general application and is formulated around six guiding principles
which are explained below.
Whereas previously the Act was the subject of much criticism
from a broad range of business communities, the latest guidance has
been welcomed as a 'common sense' approach. Justice
Secretary Kenneth Clarke confirmed that this approach was a result
of the feedback that the Government received from the business
community. The additional clarity has been particularly welcomed in
important areas such as corporate hospitality and the treatment of
joint ventures.
