The Ministry of Justice has launched  a consultation on guidance about procedures that commercial organisations should put in place to prevent bribery.  The Bribery Act  includes the offence of “a failure by a commercial organisation to prevent bribery“.  An organisation will be liable for a bribe paid on its behalf unless it can demonstrate that it had implemented adequate procedures designed to prevent bribery.

Section 9 of the Bribery Act requires the Secretary of State for Justice to publish guidance on what constitutes adequate procedures .  The consultation period is open until 8 November 2010.  The consultation will include a number of public meetings.  The draft guidance and details of the consultation process can be found by clicking here.