Last amended by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 in 2023. 1 recorded amendment effect (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
Modernised and consolidated the law of bribery. Created four offences: bribing another person, being bribed, bribing a foreign public official, and the corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery. Applies extraterritorially and imposes strict liability on commercial organisations unless they can prove adequate procedures were in place.
Key Points
- Offences of bribing (s.1) and being bribed (s.2)
- Bribery of foreign public officials (s.6)
- Corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery (s.7)
- Defence of adequate procedures (s.7(2))
- No need for connection to the UK for ss.1, 2, 6 if person is UK-connected
- Maximum penalty: 10 years' imprisonment and unlimited fine
- General offence of bribing another person (s.1)
- Offence of being bribed (s.2)
- Corporate offence — failure of commercial organisation to prevent bribery (s.7)
- Adequate procedures defence for the corporate offence
- Extra-territorial jurisdiction — applies to acts abroad by UK nationals and companies
- Maximum 10 years' imprisonment for individuals
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2010 — The Bribery Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2011
32 commencement (coming-into-force) effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
1998 — The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2012
5 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2014 — The Public Bodies (Merger of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions) Order 2014
5 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2022 — The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023
2 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2023 — Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
1 recorded amendment effect (legislation.gov.uk changes data).