TRAC: TRANSPRENCY IN REPORTING OF
TRAC: TRANSPRENCY IN REPORTING OF
Corruption in the UK Dr Robert Barrington, Executive Director
Is there a problem? Corruption Perceptions Index 2012
Corruption Perceptions Index 2012
June 2011 report
What do we need to know? •
Project management – –
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Research questions – – – – – –
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What research already exists? Who can do the research? Is corruption a problem in the UK? If so, how prevalent is it? Where and how does it manifest itself? What is the impact? Does the UK have an effective institutional framework to tackle corruption? How does this compare to other countries?
Advocacy – – –
What needs to be done? What are the priorities? How can change be effected?
Data scarcity •
A leaked Metropolitan Police investigation in 2006 estimated that there are around 1000 corrupt prison officers currently working, with a further 600 officers being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner.
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In 2009 alone, there were 10,090 prosecutions under the 2006 Fraud Act, with no indication as to how many may have included some elements of corruption.
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It is currently estimated that 38,000 people are involved in organised crime in the UK, and such activities cost the economy anywhere between £20 and £30 billion per year.
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A 2006 survey for the construction sector found that 41% of respondents had personally been offered a bribe at least once in their career.
Is corruption always illegal? • Sometimes illegal – eg bribery
• Sometimes unethical but legal – – – –
MPs’ expenses Revolving door Political party donations Unregulated political lobbying
National opinion survey
Institutional analysis National Integrity System (NIS)
Corruption in the UK
Conclusion: ‘growing threat, inadequate response’
14 recommendations • • • • • •
Awareness Effectiveness of law enforcement Increasing danger from organised crime Danger of dismantling anti-corruption defences Urgent need for coordination Need for data and further research
Key recommendation
Priority areas •
Institutions – – – – –
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Parliament Political Parties Sport Prisons Local government
Themes – – – –
Data scarcity Poor coordination Institutional weakness Complacency/denial
Initial government response
Advocacy response
TI in the MENA region • Saad Mustafa, TI Defence & Security Programme