Bribery Act
Achievements and Challenges
Sussex Centre for Corruption Research
May 29th 2013
Robert Barrington
Executive Director, Transparency International UK
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Transparency International
• Global anti-corruption NGO
• Founded in 1993
• Chapters in 100 countries
• Research and advocacy
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Corruption Perceptions Index 2012
Published December 2012
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Corruption Perceptions Index
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TI and the UK Bribery Act
• Strongly pressed for 1997 OECD Convention
• Opposed 2003 Corruption Bill
• Drafted Private Members Bill in 2006 (Lord Chidgey)
• Broadly supported 2009 Bribery Bill
• Concerned about the clamour for Guidance
• Concerns about the actual Guidance
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TI’s expectations
• Compliance with OECD Anti-Bribery Convention
• Improvement in corporate behaviour
• Enforcement that is both punishment and deterrent
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TI survey
Putting Corruption out of Business
•3,000 businesspeople
•30 countries
•May-July 2011
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TI survey
Putting Corruption out of Business
•Do you feel the following means are effective at stopping
corruption and bribery in the private sector?
(percentage of respondents who see the means as effective)
•National anti-bribery laws
Total 38%
UK 39%
•Investigative journalism
Total 49%
UK 41%
USA 29%
Singapore 66%
USA 31%
Pakistan 73%
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TI survey
Putting Corruption out of Business
•Do you feel the following measures your company can take
are effective in addressing corruption? (percentage of respondents who see the measure as
effective)
•Auditing
Total 65%
UK 70%
USA 69%
•Company anti-corruption procedures
Total 56%
UK 54%
USA 45%
Japan 85%
Nigeria/Brazil 79%
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TI survey
Putting Corruption out of Business
•My company has an ethical duty to fight corruption
•Yes
Total 79%
•No
Total 56%
UK 81%
USA 78%
Brazil 98%
UK 19%
USA 22%
Russia 55%
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Bribery Act - achievements
• A modern law that is fit-for-purpose
• Bribery taken more seriously by companies
• Changes the risk/reward ratio
• Improved international framework
• Knock-on legislation elsewhere
• Improved external perceptions of the UK
• Assess achievements over a 10-20 year horizon
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Risk/reward– broker reports
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Bribery Act - challenges
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Loopholes
Enforcement
Drop in momentum
Challenges for SMEs
Continued lobbying
Beyond bribery
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www.transparency.org
www.transparency.org.uk
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