Reforming Bribery

Most people have an intuitive sense of what ‘bribery’ is. However, it has proved hard to define in law. The current law is both out-dated and, in some instances, unfit for purpose. The Commission proposes the repeal of the common law offence of bribery, the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889, Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1916, as well as a number of other statutory provisions. These offences will be replaced by two general offences of bribery and one specific offence of bribing a foreign public official. In addition there will be a new corporate offence of negligently failing to prevent bribery by an employee.