Bribery Bill Demands Better Corporate Governance, Or Else...!

On 25 March the Government published the Bribery Bill, aimed at modernising, clarifying and simplifying the laws on bribery as they apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so that they are contained in a single statute. The Bill largely follows the Law Commission's proposals in its November 2008 Report on bribery: "Reforming Bribery", discussed in our Law-Now dated 1 December 2008 available here link. The present laws are an amalgam of common law and 19th and 20th century Prevention of Corruption Acts.

In its impact assessment on the proposed legislation, the Government noted that reform was necessary: to deal effectively with increasingly sophisticated, cross-border bribery; to enhance the UK's reputation as a commercial centre; to allow UK businesses to compete more effectively in international markets; and to ensure the UK is meeting its commitments under the OECD Convention on Bribery in International Business Transactions and other international