Bribery Act Delayed, But Not Denied

The implementation of the Bribery Act 2010 ("the Act") - which was scheduled to come into force in April of this year - has been delayed by the Government.

The Act has been heralded as taking a robust stance against bribery and corruption and has been widely reported for having a worldwide reach. Yet, despite this, the Act has come in for some criticism prior to its implementation.  Many businesses have argued that the terms of the Act are unclear, making it difficult for them to comply with its provisions. This is especially true, for example, in relation to corporate hospitality. Others have argued that it puts UK-based businesses at a competitive disadvantage in relation to worldwide competitors, especially in relation to facilitation-type payments.