How to catch bribery issues before the regulator does

Bribery doesn't always look like a suitcase of cash. It can be a luxury dinner. A referral bonus. A “facilitation fee.” And unless your organisation isset up to detect these signals early, the regulator might spot them before youdo.

The UK Bribery Act has been in force for over a decade. But in 2025, it's more relevant than ever. Not because the law has changed - but because enforcement expectations have.

This blog breaks down what the Act covers, why it matters now, and what you need in place to stay ahead of the Serious Fraud Office.

What is the UK Anti-Bribery Law?

The Bribery Act 2010 is one of the broadest anti-corruption laws in the world. It applies to any organisation with a UK connection, including subsidiaries or branches abroad.

There are four core offences under the Act:

• ‍Offering a bribe (active bribery)‍
• Receiving a bribe (passive bribery)‍
• Bribing foreign public officials‍
• Failing to prevent bribery within your organisation

Penalties are severe. Individuals face up to 10 years in prison and unlimited fines. Organisations can be hit with significant fines and reputational damage that takes years to repair.

Why this matters right now

Public concern about corruption in the UK is rising. According to Transparency International, the UK just hit its lowest-ever score on the Global Corruption Perceptions Index.

The message is clear: enforcement is tightening, especially for regulated industries. Financial services, pharma, defence, and companies with complex supply chains are under pressure.

Boards are being held accountable - not just for policy, but for action.

If you can’t show how bribery risks are identified and addressed in real time, you’re exposed.

Why most bribery issues go unnoticed

Bribery rarely announces itself. Most of the time, it’s subtle.

For example, thinks of these scenario: A supplier offers football tickets to a procurement manager. A “consultancy fee” is paid for winning a contract. A third party offers gifts during a bid process

And inside your organisation, those on the front lines might not even recognise this behaviour as misconduct. Others see it but stay silent, because they fear retaliation or don’t trust the reporting process.

If your programme depends on manual tools, or if reports are scatteredacross inboxes, you won’t see the pattern. And that’s exactly where risk hides.

The role of whistleblowing systems in preventing bribery

A well-designed whistleblowing system does more than meet regulatory requirements. It gives compliance leaders visibility.

• ‍Anonymous, multilingual channels allow employees and third parties to report concerns without fear‍
• Centralised reporting helps spot trends - like repeated gifts targeting a specific depart mentor region‍
• Benchmarking can flag underreporting risks (e.g. fewer than 1.5 reports per 100 employees signals low engagement)‍
• Efficient case handling ensures issues aren’t buried or left unresolved

In short, it builds the feedback loop you need to detect and address bribery risks early.

How to detect and resolute bribery

SpeakUp’s whistleblowing platform is built for global organisations dealing with complex risks, including bribery.

• Reports are captured and managed centrally, across countries and jurisdictions
• Our AI Voice Agent ensures every concern is documented, even under pressure.\Real-time dashboards and benchmarking help you spot trends early
• Data-backed reporting enables leaders to see where policies are working, and where they’re failing

This isn’t about ticking a compliance box to satisfy regulatory demands. It’s about knowing where risk lives - and acting before the regulator does.

Key takeaways for compliance leaders

You don’t need to ask if bribery is a risk. You already know the answer. The real question is: can your compliance and ethics systems surface it fast enough to act?

Policies alone won’t protect the board

Having a whistleblower policy is just the start. If your systems don’t track reports, flag risks, or document actions clearly, leadership remains exposed, even when compliance looks good on paper.

Manual, disconnected systems miss patterns

Misconduct rarely shows up in one place. It surfaces in fragments—across teams, regions, and time. If your platform can’t connect the dots, you’re not managing risk. You’re guessing.

Silence is not safety, it’s a signal something’s broken

No reports doesn’t mean no problems. It usually means people don’t trust the process or don’t believe anything will change. That silence is a warning - and it’s one you can fix with better tools and follow-through.

FAQs

What are some examples of bribery under UK law?

Typical examples include offering luxury gifts to decision-makers, paying “facilitation” fees for approvals, or giving commissions in exchange for contract awards.

What’s the penalty for an organisation that fails to prevent bribery?

There’s no cap. The courts can impose unlimited fines. Reputational damage and contract loss often follow.

How does whistleblowing reduce bribery risk?

It gives you early warning signals. People on the ground often spot issues first - but they need safe, visible channels to speak up. Without that,misconduct stays hidden.

How do I learn about SpeakUp pricing?

SpeakUp offers tailored solutions based on organisation size and risk profile. Contact our team to get a customised quote and overview.