UK Bribery Act – Publication of Government Guidance

Guidance Issued

The UK Ministry of Justice has published its long-awaited official guidance (the Guidance) on anti-corruption compliance procedures, which organisations should implement in order to prevent persons associated with them from committing bribery under the UK Bribery Act 2010 (the Act). The Act will come into force on 1 July 2011 – so businesses now have three months to prepare their policies and procedures in light of the Guidance.

In addition, the UK Serious Fraud Office and Director of Public Prosecutions have published Joint Prosecution Guidance in relation to the Act (Joint Guidance for Prosecutors). The Joint Guidance for Prosecutors may provide businesses with a sense of the type of conduct that is particularly likely to be prosecuted under the Act and thereby provide a clearer roadmap for the assessment of risk under the Act.