TI-UK Corruption Beginners Guide Rachel Davies Advocacy Manager, Transparency International UK
BRIBE PAYERS INDEX
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX
GLOBAL CORRUPTION BAROMETER
JUNE 2011 RESEARCH
We also looked at: Police National Health Service (NHS) Legal profession Prison service Social housing Procurement Sport City of London Construction Local government UK Border Agency
Four main areas of concern: parliament, political parties, sport, prisons
CORRUPTION IN SPORT
Six people were arrested on Sunday over match fixing allegations in football and have been bailed until April.
In a separate investigation, the National Crime Agency is examining claims that an international betting syndicate was involved in match-fixing.
CORRUPTION IN PRISONS
There are an estimated 1000 corrupt prison officers working in the UK This facilitates organised crime to take place within and outside of the prison The prison service has reduced its capacity to monitor and investigate the problem.
PARLIAMENT AND POLITICAL PARTIES
The results of the 2013 GCB show a crisis of trust in the political system: Of the people surveyed, 67% in the UK view political parties as being affected by corruption, and 55% believe that the British parliament has a corruption problem. 90 per cent believe that the UK Government is run by a few big entities acting in their own interest.
PARLIAMENT AND POLITICAL PARTIES
“It [lobbying] is the next big scandal waiting to happen. It’s an issue that crosses party lines and has tainted our politics for too long, an issue that exposes the far-too-cosy relationship between politics, government, business and money ... We must come clean about who is buying power and influence” David Cameron (Feb 2010)
RECENT SCANDALS INCLUDE News International: allegations in the wake of the phone hacking enquiry that the influence of Rupert Murdoch and his newspapers significantly distorted UK politicians’ political decision making. Cash for honours: following the 2006 scandal, a simmering suspicion that party donors are rewarded with seats in the House of Lords; there have been many individual allegations. Peers for sale: the secret recording of members of the House of Lords offering to influence legislation for a fee at the request of private clients. Cabs for hire: the secret recording of former government ministers offering to sell access to government decision makers to private consultants.
In Equatorial Guinea: - 77% of the population lives in poverty - 35% die before the age of 40 - 57% lack access to safe water - Between 1990 and 2007 the infant mortality rate rose from 10% to 12% -
IMF, Republic of Equatorial Guinea (2008)
CLOSING DOWN THE SAFE HAVENS Why focus on the UK? UK is a major intermediary or ultimate destination for corrupt assets due to its role as a global financial centre and its connection to tax havens In the case of General Sani Abacha, an estimated US$1.3 billion of money stolen while he was dictator of Nigeria is believed to have been laundered through UK banks Major changes are required if the UK is to detect, freeze and seize the corruptly-obtained assets that are flowing undetected through the financial system
UK BRIBERY ACT 2010
Two general offences covering the offering, promising or giving of an advantage, and requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting of an advantage; The bribery of a foreign public official; and The new offence of failure by a commercial organisation to prevent a bribe being paid to obtain or retain business or a business advantage
rachel.davies@transparency.org.uk www.transparency.org.uk