7 years on, Lords Select Committee to review Bribery Act 2010
23/05/187 years ago, the UK passed one of the most significant pieces of Anti-Bribery legislation in Europe - the Bribery Act 2010 ("the Act")
The Act created individual offences around the giving and receiving of bribes, as well as a corporate offence of failure by an organisation to have in place adequate procedures to prevent persons associated with them from undertaking bribery.
In response, many organisations (including many in the healthcare sector) created anti-bribery policies and other action to show that they were taking steps to prevent bribery from occurring in their organisation.
The House of Lords report, due in 2019, on the Bribery Act 2010 will be of interest to all those responsible for bribery prevention within their organisations and may provide an opportune moment to review anti-bribery policies that are in place.
Seven years since it came into force, and with the majority of bribery cases being prosecuted under the Bribery Act 2010, now is the opportune time for post-legislative scrutiny. The Committee will examine the effectiveness of the Act, whether there has been stricter prosecution of corrupt conduct, a higher conviction rate, and a reduction in such conduct.
“There is confusion and uncertainty about the Act, amongst SMEs in particular. The inquiry would seek to raise awareness and understanding of the Act"
