Modern times – the new Bribery Bill

On the 25 March 2009, Jack Straw published the new Bribery Bill, which is likely to be enacted later this year. The purpose of the Bill, explains Neill Blundell of Eversheds, is to modernise the currently outdated bribery laws in the UK so that there is a clear legal framework for dealing with and prosecuting corrupt activity, whether committed in the UK or elsewhere.

Neill Blundell is Head of Financial Crime at Eversheds LLP (+44 (0) 20 7919 4533, neillblundell@eversheds.com).

The new Bribery Bill is founded on the Law Commission’s recommendations, published in November 2008, but does have some differences. The proposals offer new hope in the fight against bribery and corruption by providing clarity and consistency of law and by placing a far greater burden on business to ensure that they have adequate anti-corruption systems in place to prevent such activity.