Abstract
UK legislation against bribery has its origins deep in the 19th century. Courts and plaintiffs had been wrestling with concepts of corruption, of public service and of obligation and duty to employers since the middle of the century. But after a long period when the courts used common law to prosecute allegations of bribery, they finally created coherent statutes with the 1889 Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act and then with the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1916. The latter was prompted by bribery involving sales to the government of trousers for soldiers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
A. Doig, Corruption and Misconduct in Contemporary British Politics. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 127.
R. Fitzwalter and D. Taylor Web of Corruption: The Story of John Poulson and T. Dan Smith, Manchester: Granada, 1981, p. 52.
The Prime Minister’s Committee on Local Government Rules of Conduct, Conduct in Local Government: Report (the Redcliffe-Maud Report), Cmnd 4040, London: HMSO, May 1977.
Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life, Report 1974–76 (the Salmon Report), Cmnd 6524, London: HMSO, 1976.
Committee on Standards in Public Life, MPs’ Expenses and Allowances, Cmnd 7724, London: The Stationery Office, November 2009 <www.public-standards.gov.uk/Library/MP_expenses_main_report.pdf> (accessed May 28, 2011).
OECD, Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, Paris: OECD. <www.oecd.org/document/20/0,3343,en_2649_34859_2017813_1_1_1_1,00.html> (accessed May 28, 2011).
Home Office, Corruption: Draft Legislation, Cmnd 5777, London: HMSO, March 2003.
HM Government, Bribery: Reform of the Prevention of Corruption Acts and SFO Powers in Cases of Bribery of Foreign Officials: a consultation paper, London: The Stationery Office, December 2005.
Law Commission, Reforming Bribery: A Consultation Paper, No 185, London: Law Commission, November 2007.
Law Commission, “Reforming bribery,” LC313, London: Law Commission, October 2008.
Copyright information
© 2011 Nick Kochan and Robin Goodyear
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kochan, N., Goodyear, R. (2011). British Bribery Legislation: How the UK Bribery Act Came About. In: Corruption. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230343344_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230343344_4
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-33458-2
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-34334-4
eBook Packages: Palgrave Business & Management CollectionBusiness and Management (R0)