Corruption in the UK

Transparency International UK has launched the major findings from a series of studies which examine corruption in the UK.

The reports – which represent the most comprehensive research ever undertaken in this area – examine the levels of corruption in 23 UK sectors and institutions.

The research represents a ‘corruption health-check’ for the UK. Although corruption is not endemic in the UK, it is correct to say that in some areas of UK society and institutions, corruption is a much greater problem than recognised and that there is an inadequate response to its growing threat.

The report is made up of three studies and an overview, which you can download below:

Corruption in the UK: Overview & Policy Recommendations (790 KB)

TI-UK Executive Director, Chandrashekhar Krishnan, gives an overview of the findings from the three Corruption in the UK studies, and sets out TI-UK's policy recommendations.

Corruption In The UK: Part One - National Opinion Survey (647 KB)

Results and analysis of an opinion survey of 2,000 UK citizens' experiences and perceptions of corruption.

Corruption in the UK: Part Two - Assessment of Key Sectors (630 KB)

Part Two covers the following sectors: Police, National Health Service (NHS), legal profession, prison service, social housing, procurement, sport, City of London, construction, local government and UK Border Agency.

Corruption in the UK: Part Three - NIS Study (1 MB)

The NIS study covers the following sectors: Business, civil society, electoral management body, executive, judiciary, law enforcement, media, ombudsman, political parties, public sector and the supreme audit institution.

Response from the Prime Minister

Does the UK Have a Corruption Problem?

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Recent events such as the phone hacking controversy, MPs expenses scandal and the spot fixing charges in county cricket have highlighted the fact that the UK is not immune to corruption.

Transparency International UK (TI-UK) recently published a report which examined the levels of corruption in 23 UK sectors and institutions.

TI-UK is hosting four events in Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and Middlesbrough to present the findings of the report, and discuss whether corruption really is a problem, and if so, what can be done to tackle it. Each event will consist of a drinks or breakfast reception, followed by a presentation of the findings and a Q&A session.

Cardiff – March 12

Middlesbrough – April 18

Edinburgh – May 2

Manchester – May 15

To register, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Transparency International UK
Transparency International UK is the country's leading anti-corruption organisation and part of the global Transparency International (TI) movement. With colleagues working in more than 90 countries, TI has unparalleled global understanding and expertise.

Corruption in the UK report
The 3-volume report – the most extensive study into UK corruption ever undertaken - examines 23 sectors and concludes that key institutions are refusing to confront the problem. Of particular concern are prisons, political parties, parliament and sport where the response to the increasing corruption risk is often incoherent and uncoordinated.

Speakers

Michael Macaulay is Professor of Public Management at Teesside University. He has published extensively in the field of public and administrative ethics, and his current research interests include ethical leadership, and local and national integrity systems. Michael has conducted research and consultancy for a number of agencies including Standards for England and Transparency International.

Chandu Krishnan, Executive Director of Transparency International UK, will chair the event.

Attachments:
TI-UK invite Cardiff 12 March.pdf	150 Kb

Corruption in the UK: Information at a glance

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Our research

• Our research examined twenty-three sectors and institutions in the UK.

• 53.4% of respondents to our national opinion survey believe that corruption has increased either a little or a lot in the UK in the last three years; only 2.5% of respondents believe that corruption has decreased either a little or a lot.

• 48.1% of respondents do not think the government is effective in tackling corruption; just over one quarter of respondents (25.9%) feel the government is effective, and 25.9% are unsure.

• 92.7% of respondents would like to report corruption, but only 30.1% would know where to report it.

Background information

• There are at least 12 different agencies or government departments with partial responsibility for anti-corruption activities, plus more than 40 police forces, and it is unclear whether they share information, collaborate on investigations, or share good practice on corruption prevention.

• 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.

• In 2007, the Stevens Inquiry found that irregular payments had been involved in 17 football transfers.

• 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.

• Only 1.9% of respondents in our national opinion survey had paid a bribe in the past twelve months. Yet a 2006 survey for the construction sector found that 41% of respondents had personally been offered a bribe at least once in their career.