Press Release

22 June 2006

Prime Minister announces crackdown on international corruption, as part of Gleneagles implementation plan

Related pages: Hilary Benn speech - "Political Governance, Corruption and the Role of Aid" | G8 Gleneagles

The Prime Minister today announced new measures to tackle international corruption, identified as one of the priorities at the Gleneagles G8 summit a year ago.

Hilary Benn To Lead Government Fight Against Global Corruption

The Prime Minister has appointed Hilary Benn as Ministerial champion for addressing international corruption. The new role, complementing Mr Benn’s position as International Development Secretary, will see him working with other Ministers across government to tackle corruption wherever it threatens to undermine the fight against poverty.

New International Corruption Taskforce to be Established

The Government will also establish a new dedicated team for investigating international corruption, including money laundering in the UK by corrupt politicians from developing countries, and bribery by UK businesses overseas.

The new taskforce will include members from the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police Service, and the Department for International Development will provide funding.

These two announcements are included in the Prime Minister’s response today to a report by the Africa All Party Parliamentary Group, ‘The other side of the coin: the UK and corruption in Africa’. The report called for an anti-corruption champion to be appointed, and for specific resources to investigate international corruption.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said:

“At Gleneagles last year, African leaders and the heads of the G8 countries were united in identifying the importance of fighting corruption to help reduce poverty in Africa and worldwide.

“The UK has a responsibility to tackle money laundering and bribery where it stems from our own shores, and to support developing countries in fighting corruption. Hilary Benn will give a strong lead to Government action on both of these fronts.”

Hilary Benn said:

“In poor countries corruption harms the poorest people above all. Money meant for drugs for a sick child, or to build a hospital, can be siphoned off into overseas bank accounts or to build a luxury house.

“The UK has a duty to ensure that aid money goes to where it is needed – a responsibility I take very seriously - but we must also help poor countries to fight corruption.

“We also have to recognise that where there are bribe takers, there are also bribe givers. The new taskforce for investigating corruption will help to put the UK at the forefront of efforts to tackle international corruption in all its forms.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilmott, Head of City of London Police Economic Crime Division and ACPO portfolio holder for overseas corruption and bribery, said:

"Investigation of overseas corruption and bribery is a new and crucial dimension of UK policing. Today's announcement of dedicated resources to help us work in conjunction with the Serious Fraud Office and the Metropolitan Police Service in tackling international corruption will give us a global lead in this important fight.”

Hilary Benn will be speaking to Members of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh today, and will set out the importance of tackling international corruption and improving governance.

Further priorities for Mr Benn in his new role will be to work with business and international partners to implement the UN Convention Against Corruption, and to support poor countries to fight corruption domestically.

The Government’s full plans for future work on tackling international corruption will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper for International Development, and in a cross-departmental action plan which will be published in the summer.

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact Pete Lewis in the Department for International Development Press Office on 020 7023 1722 or p-lewis@dfid.gov.uk 

For further details on the City of London Police role in the international corruption taskforce, please contact Catriona Mackie on 020 7601 2220.

For further details on the Metropolitan Police Service’s role in the new international corruption taskforce, please contact Ruth Shulver on 020 7230 3670

The AAPG report ‘The Other Side of the Coin: the UK and corruption in Africa’ can be found at: http://www.africaappg.org.uk/ 

The UK Government’s response to the report can be found at: http://www.number10.gov.uk/ 

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