UK Bribery Act 2010

The UK Bribery Act

The Bribery Act 2010 (‘An Act to make provision about offences relating to bribery; and for connected purposes’) is an Act of Parliament that covers the criminal offence of bribery in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Act received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 and came into effect on 1^st July 2011.

Criminal offences under the Act are:

• Bribery
• Being bribed
• The bribery of foreign public officials
• The failure of a commercial organisation to prevent bribery on its behalf.

Penalties under the Act range from 10 years’ imprisonment and unlimited fines to disqualification as a company director and seizure of assets.

Offences under the Act can be committed by any organisation or individual that has links to the UK, regardless of where in the world the offence was committed.