Department for International
Development (DfID)
The UK Government is committed to fulfilling the international
commitments it has made in ratifying the UN Convention Against
Corruption, and the OECD
Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public
Officials. DfID's Third White Paper on International Development
sets out this commitment:
'The UK is committed to tackling corruption, bribery and
money laundering. This includes making sure that we rigorously
enforce relevant UK laws so that people who pay bribes are
prosecuted, and assets are returned to the countries from which
they have been stolen.'
The establishment and purpose of the
ICG
The International Corruption Group, set up in November 2006,
brings together the experience of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
and Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) with new capacity in the
Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and City of London Police
(CoLP). The purpose of the ICG is to strengthen the UK's
capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption occurring between
developed and developing countries and return stolen assets.
Through DfID support the Police now have additional investigative
capacity through support for the employment and associated running
costs of 16 additional police officers within the City of London
and Metropolitan Police. These officers form two teams - namely the
Proceeds of Crime Team within the Met and the Overseas
Anti-Corruption Unit within CoLP.
- The Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit increases the capacity to
investigate, and bring to successful prosecution, cases of foreign
bribery by UK businesses and nationals operating in developing
countries.
- The Proceeds of Crime Team increases the capacity to
investigate, and recover the proceeds of money laundering by
Politically Exposed Persons through the UK's financial
system. Assets will be recovered and returned to their
country of origin.
The repatriation of stolen assets will provide these countries
with additional resources for poverty reduction.
DFID's original support (£6 million) will last for three years.
BERR has recently provided extra funding for an additional two
officers. Funding from DFID will now be provided until 2011.