Development and anti-corruption organizations, including the Global Witness, Tearfund, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and Bond, welcomed the passage of the Royal Assent of the Bribery Act, a new anti-bribery legislation that seeks to better address and sanction bribery among British companies.
The Royal Assent of the Bribery Act covers the creation of a new offense for bribery of foreign public officials and a new corporate offense for firms that fail to address and prevent bribery in their ranks.
“We believe that the UK has an obligation to ensure that companies based here do not contribute to corruption overseas through bribery, or other means,” CAFOD policy analyst Sonya Maldar said in a news release. “We welcome the Act as part of a commitment by the UK Government to tackling this issue and hope that the new government will enforce the new legislation without delay.”
