2024 Publications

The government has introduced new ‘failure to prevent offences’ for bribery and fraud, and two facilitation of criminal tax evasion offences (in the UK and abroad) since 2010, and in 2023 legislated for a major reform of the underlying rules for holding corporations to account. But as the number of corporate offences have grown, there has been little corresponding focus on ensuring the legislation for holding senior executives to account is fit for purpose. Without further targeted reforms, it is unlikely the new corporate offences will be accompanied by an upswing in senior executive accountability.

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With an apparent absence of any resource or funding commitments, and with some actions arguably dependent on funding rather than strategy, possibly the most effective action will be improving the way in the which agencies work together effectively to tackle these five lines of action to tackle serious and organised crime:

•           In-country: with increased impact against the highest-priority organised crime groups operating in and against the UK, in particular increased impact against fraud and economic crime, including illicit finance and cybercrime.

•           UK Border: to disrupt organised immigration crime.

•           International: the disruption of high-harm organised criminals overseas, with improved information and intelligence sharing internationally, linked to wider government development goals.

•           Technology and capabilities: ensuring the best intelligence and data collection, analysis, and investigative capabilities are in place to identify and disrupt organised criminals.

•           Multi-agency response: ensuring all public and private sector partners are working together as effectively as possible with the right capacity, skills, structures and tasking processes.

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