Concerns raised over implications of UK bribery act on logistics providers

A recent article published by logistics manager.com and quoted in the latest British International Freight Association (Bifa) newsletter raises some interesting issues related to the UK Bribery Act which was passed 12 months ago and its implications for logistics service providers. According to the article, based on research carried out by GoodCorporation, a significant number of logistics companies appear to have insufficient procedures in place to prevent corruption, which puts themselves and their clients at risk. A third have no published anti-corruption policy or statement and more than half make no statement at all regarding facilitation payments. The new bribery law makes it easier for prosecutors to bring charges, and demands that businesses be accountable for the activities of all third parties and intermediaries working on their behalf. For logistics providers operating in Africa, where bribery and corruption are rife, the implications of the Act are a concern – opening them up to unlimited fines and up to ten years in jail.