Bribery self-reporting scheme extended a further year

The Lord Advocate has extended the self-reporting initiative, by which businesses who uncover bribery in their organisations can proactively notify the Crown Office, for a further year until 30 June 2017.

Under the initiative, which was first launched in July 2011, businesses which discover instances of bribery committed by their employees which might be prosecuted under the Bribery Act 2010 can volunteer information to Crown Office, which may result in less severe action being taken against the business.

Each case reported is considered on its own merits. The Serious & Organised Crime Unit considers what action requires to be taken in the public interest in these cases. There may be self-reported cases where it is in the public interest to refer the case to the Civil Recovery Unit with a view to a civil settlement being agreed. There will be other cases that are so serious that they will merit prosecution and confiscation proceedings.

Click here for updated guidance setting out in detail how reports by a company should be made and the approach which will be taken by Crown Office.