The City of London Police Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit (OACU) has launched a video highlighting the damaging consequences for UK companies and individuals of engaging in corrupt business activities.

The short six-minute video entitled “Consequences begin at home” has been created as a tool that can be used by corporates to educate their employees as part of their anti-corruption compliance programmes.

The video is available here. http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/advice-and-support/fraud-and-economic-crime/oacu/0780345890-fgldkemdDLdfdfdKWQ-03451980-cpvideo/Pages/default.aspx

The video shows a single actor playing various characters touched by corruption –

•  the bribing employee,
•  his distraught wife,
•  a senior executive of the company and
• ultimately the presiding criminal judge convicting the employee.

Whilst it does not focus on the content of the Bribery Act, it instead demonstrates the impact that a corruption investigation could have on companies and individuals who ignore the Act and break the law.

The video will be followed up by a ‘reporting template’ on how companies and individuals can report any bribery and corruption suspicions.

In promoting the video Commander Steve Head, ACPO National Coordinator for Economic Crime, is quoted as saying:

•  “Many of you may have heard it said that corruption is a ‘victimless crime’; I can assure you it isn’t.
•  It differs from most other crimes in that most of the victims are abroad and are often unaware of the offence.
•  But, the corrosive effect that this type of offence can have on society and on the rule of law cannot be underestimated.
•  We regularly engage with our International partners and colleagues assisting them in the pursuit of offenders.”

The video short is a helpful and free training tool for companies to use as part of their overall anti-corruption compliance programmes for employees, including senior executives.

The video should be supplemented by detailed education on the Bribery Act’s wide offences, jurisdictional reach and potential impact (in terms of custodial sentences and financial penalties).