OUR GLOBAL MOVEMENT
The COVID-19 pandemic has required a rapid public health response on a scale and speed unseen in modern times. Whilst those procuring goods and services have sought to expedite the emergency response, we observe a pattern of behaviour whereby critical safeguards for protecting the public purse have been thrown aside without adequate justification.
Emerging evidence from investigative journalists, the National Audit Office (NAO) and public interest litigation highlights these in startling detail.
Using evidence from these reports and analysis of available data, we identify two key issues concerning procurement practices during the pandemic. We also identify a third, more general issue relating to the mechanisms for ensuring integrity in public office.
From these findings, we propose ten steps that could address some of the concerns raised over the last year, and help avoid similar mistakes being repeated in the future. None of these are particularly costly, with three either complementing or endorsing proposals already included in the UK Government’s Green Paper for reform. If implemented effectively, they have the potential to increase transparency, deliver greater accountability, and reduce the risks associated with contracting, both during a crisis and in normal times.
We hope this provides a critical, yet constructive contribution towards recent debates. Some of what we propose may be uncomfortable for those of which we ask it – subjecting oneself to greater scrutiny is seldom a natural imperative for those in public office – yet these steps are critical to setting the record straight.
Since 1995, Transparency International UK has played a leading role in tackling corruption in the UK, Britain’s role in corruption overseas, and corruption in global sectors critical to international security and development.
We achieve this through impartial, evidence-based research, the design of new standards and solutions and the education of decision-makers. We drive change through constructive advocacy and by providing support and expertise to others aligned to our cause.
Our significant achievements to date include leading the campaign for the creation of the UK Bribery Act (2010), amongst the strongest international legislation on bribery. We secured the introduction of Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) in the UK, which have been used by the police to seize the proceeds of corruption laundered through the UK. We created powerful benchmarking tools helping dozens of FTSE 100 companies significantly improve their anti-corruption programmes. We created a global Government Defence Integrity Index which is now relied on by governments and civil society to achieve accountable and transparent defence institutions. We supported the transformation of health procurement in several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to prevent losses to corruption and ensure better access to medicines.
This strategy seeks to build on these strong foundations. It provides guiding principles to drive all of our programmes to achieve the greatest possible impact. It also underscores the need to address corruption with greater scale and ambition, across the UK and internationally.
This symposium will bring together perspectives on a range of UK corruption research topics and provide a forum for academia civil society, the private sector and law enforcement to come together to discuss how research can support efforts to understand, detect and deter corruption crimes.
A TI-UK event, in collaboration with the National Crime Agency.
The event builds on the UK Government’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, published in October 2013, which emphasised the need to tackle bribery and corruption in the UK and the importance of collaboration between the National Crime Agency, civil society, the private sector and academia in helping to address and understand corruption issues.
The symposium will also launch the Political Studies Association (PSA) specialist group on Corruption and Political Misconduct (CPM) which will provide an interdisciplinary platform to exchange ideas relating to the teaching and research of corruption and related issues (such as electoral fraud, organised crime, governance and political ethics). The event will include a keynote address from the National Crime Agency, and panel discussions on:
The event will be hosted by the Transparency International UK (TI-UK) Anti-Corruption Research Network (ACRN) which is an information hub for researchers who are either based in the UK or focused on UK corruption issues. Through the ACRN, TI-UK seeks to identify topics for future research that can support the fight against corruption.
The event is pitched to be of interest to:
Symposium speakers include:
Nigel Kirby, Deputy Director, National Crime Agency
Dr Liz Dávid-Barrett, Director of the Centre for the Study of Corruption and Transparency at Kellogg College, University of Oxford
Dr Dan Hough, Director of the Sussex Centre for the Study of Corruption
Prof Paul Whiteley, University of Essex, Essex Centre for the Study of Integrity
Bill Peace, Senior Visiting Research Fellow, Kings College
Professor Gloria Laycock, UCL and Former Head of the Home Office Police Research Group
Adam Thompson, Anti-Corruption Policy Lead at the Home Office
Antonio Suarez-Martinez, Edwards Wildman
Dr Robert Barrington, Executive Director of TI-UK
To register your interest in attending this symposium, please email events@transparency.org.uk. Spaces are limited at the event and a confirmation of your attendance is based on availability.
