Anti-Corruption & Bribery Comparative Guide

1 Legal and enforcement framework

1.1 Which legislative and regulatory provisions govern anti-corruption in your jurisdiction, from a regulatory (preventive) and enforcement (criminal) perspective?

Conduct which took place before 1 July 2011 can be subject to:

• common law offences of bribery and accepting a bribe;
• the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889;
• the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916; and
• the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001.

The Bribery Act 2010 is now the main legislation in the United Kingdom that governs bribery and corruption. It came into effect on 1 July 2011 and covers all companies with a UK connection. They can be prosecuted under the act in the United Kingdom for bribery committed anywhere in the world by staff, intermediaries, third parties or trading partners acting on their behalf. Individuals can also be prosecuted.