Revised policies

9 October, 2012 | Statements

The Serious Fraud Office has reviewed its policies on facilitation payments, business expenditure (hospitality) and corporate self-reporting.  The purpose is to:

1. restate the SFO’s primary role as an investigator and prosecutor of serious or complex fraud, including corruption;
2. ensure there is consistency with other prosecuting bodies; and
3. meet certain OECD recommendations.

The Director of the SFO, David Green CB QC, wishes to re-emphasise that all decisions to prosecute unlawful activity will be governed by the Full Code Test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the applicable joint SFO/CPS prosecution guidance.

The revised statements of policy can be found on the website:

• Facilitation payments
• Business expenditure (eg hospitality and gifts)
• Self-reporting

  Notes for editors:

1. See Q and A page relating to revised policies.