Corruption in the UK Dr Robert Barrington, Executive Director TRAC: TRANSPRENCY IN REPORTING OF Corruption in the UK Dr Robert Barrington, Executive Director

Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 Is there a problem? Corruption Perceptions Index 2012

Corruption Perceptions Index 2012

June 2011 report

What do we need to know? Project management Research questions What research already exists? Who can do the research? Research questions 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. 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. 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. 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 Themes 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