The Bribery & Corruption Act and Offences Explained

The Bribery Act 2010

Within the legal realm, offenders guilty of bribery are defined as offering, giving, receiving or soliciting any item of value to influence the actions of an official, or other person. In order to tackle bribery and corruption within the UK, The Bribery Act 2010 was created and came into force in July 2011. The act solely works to prosecute those guilty of bribery, instead of dealing with cases of extortion, fraud, amongst other forms of corruption. Under the eyes of UK law, the sentence reflects the severity of the crime, as offenders (either an individual or a company) can be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years.

Being accused of bribery can cause unimaginable stress, but here at Noble Solicitors we are equipped with a wealth of knowledge in this area and a motivated team to assist you every step of the way. Do not hesitate to contact us on 07000 81 82 83 and we shall aim to provide you with the support you require to find a quick and easy solution.

What Criminal Offences are Created by The Bribery Act 2010?

Under this act it is a criminal offence to offer or receive a bribe: an advantageous (perhaps financial) reward for the improper performance of a relevant function. There are four main offences under the Act all of which relate to “improper performance of relevant functions or activities”, which fall into the subsection if they are: any function of public nature, any activity connected with a business, any activity performed in the course of a person’s employment or any activity performed by or on behalf of a body of persons (whether corporate or unincorporate). The main offences are as follows:

1. Bribing another person

A person guilty of bribing another person is found offering an advantageous reward in order to encourage a person to act improperly, resulting in the improper performance of a relevant function or activity.

2. Being bribed

Offences relating to being bribed include when a person agrees to recieve or accepts a financial or other advantage, which is intended to encourage them perform a relevant function or activity improperly.

3. Bribing a foreign public official

A person guilty of this offence, is found offering a bribe to a foreign public official: someone who holds a legislative, administrative or judicial position outside the UK, or exercises a public function on behalf of any other country. The offender will be found offering an incentive in order to alter or influence the foreign public official’s performance within their role.

4. Failure by commercial organisation to prevent bribery

Lastly, a commercial organisation is guilty of this offence if they do not have adequate procedures in place in order to prevent bribery. Employers should train staff to ensure they understand the Act in full and put anti-bribery procedures in place, tackling and identifying key areas of risk.

Cases regarding bribery can be complex and stress inducing. If you have been accused of bribery and corruption, it is essential to seek expert legal advice as soon as possible. Here are Noble Solicitors, we can assist clients with fighting for favourable outcomes. Please do not hesitate to contact us on 07000 81 82 83.