Transparency International UK (TI-UK) made a submission to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on a new enforcement tool to deal with economic crime committed by commercial organisations - Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs)
 

Summary

• TI-UK broadly supports the introduction of DPAs but believes that DPAs should be part of a wider set of reforms if they are to work effectively in the interests of justice, including 3 specific reforms that would need to be implemented alongside DPAs.
• TI-UK is not supportive of the introduction of DPAs as a stand-alone measure without these accompanying reforms.
• As an over-riding principle, TI-UK believes that bribery is a serious crime, for which companies and individuals should be prosecuted and punished. It would not serve the interests of justice for the introduction of DPAs to be seen as a soft option for companies or a cheap option for prosecutors.