While corruption is undoubtedly a growing concern in the UK I like many others have never felt that we exist here in a corrupt society, writes our regular contributor Jim Gannon.
That’s unlike many other areas in the world where corruption and bribery seems to be a way of life and everyone seems to be touched by it in one form or another as they simply try to get by. Greasing the so called ‘cogs in the proverbial wheel ’is a way of life and no matter where you happen to be in the food chain you are forced to pay the price. As the UK moves from one of the most relaxed legal and financial regimes in Europe, to one of the most strictest, in one swoop, as the Bribery Act came into force in July, we have heard and read in the media coverage that British businesses are scrambling to clean up their act in a rush to get their houses in order, before the weight of the new legislation and its enforcement agency, the Serious Fraud Office descends upon them.
What more surprises?
While our media is dominated by the latest telephone hacking scandal and the serious issues which surround it, one has to wonder what further surprises are still left for the British public to learn about. The closure of the News of the World after 168 years of publishing history, gives just one indication how far some forms of corruption have entered certain areas of our society. The fact that allegations have been levelled at both the roles of private investigators and the police in these matters saddens me, but highlights the realism that greed to some is still a motivating factor as a way to get the things they want in life. Vivian Robinson QC General Counsel at the Serious Fraud Office in a quote recently reported in the Financial Mail stated that the Bribery Act is one of the toughest pieces of legislation anywhere in the world. He added that the Act holds British firms and any foreign company with operations in Britain liable for bribes paid overseas by any of its employees, unless that company took all possible steps to ensure a clean commercial environment. He added: “These steps may involve training sessions, special software to detect unusual payments, spot checks by internal auditors and many other precautions. This suggests that technology will play a more important role in future investigations of corruption and it will be a major tool in rooting our offenders.” While the new Act has many supporters in the business community there are those who do not feel the British taxpayer should stump up the costs of funding expensive investigations into possible offences abroad but as corruption appears now to be an international problem. How else can enforcement agencies effectively conduct meaningful investigations worldwide.
How it affects you
How does bribery and corruption affect those in a security management role? Those of you who have been in a front line investigative role either in the police or industry will have been touched by corruption in one form or another. The opportunities are never too far away. As a police officer I found that the risk normally came in the form of letting people off for offences, mislaying vital evidence, passing information, re-routing the proceeds of crime, accepting favours in one form or another from criminals and generally making your position serve one’s own personal needs rather than the public. Fortunately the bad apples in the barrel were very few and far between and for the vast majority of serving officers, including myself, they were there to do the job to the best of their ability whatever level that ability might be. The opportunities in the private sector are somewhat limited although they do obviously exist. If for instance your job role involves purchasing products or services you automatically become labelled in sales jargon as an ‘economic buying influence’ (EBI). For example you control security expenditure, you have discretionary use of resources, you have a veto power but most importantly you are able to say the magic ’yes’ word and in fact make it happen. Having this label gives you an enormous amount of power and influence in possible corruption terms. You are constantly being sought out by sales staff eager to get before you to make their pitch. So much time is wasted by sales people talking to the wrong people. I know because I have been on both sides of this fence and at times I have wondered what more one has to do to get a sale finalised. On the other side of the fence in a EBI role which is somewhat easier, I have been faced with veiled suggestions of personal benefit which could if accepted influence one’s decision-making process. At times this could have been both financially and operationally detrimental to my employers interests. Fortunately I worked for a private company whose embedded philosophy included long-term supplier relationships and so long-term contracts awarded were not uncommon.
Greed
During my years as an investigator within the commercial industry I have known instances of where those in a position of trust have been corrupted by greed and sheer arrogance to make decisions in their self-interest, which in turn have impacted on their own companies but rewarded them personally, in a number of ways including financially, free holidays, hotel breaks, personal gifts, household improvements: the list goes on. Will the new legislation stop this activity? I think not, but it will deter many who otherwise might have been tempted to take this route.
