The UK is often assumed to have strong protections against bribery and corruption thanks to its strong legal framework. Yet this can mask a troubling reality: bribery and corruption persist in everyday life, not just within organisations but in routine interactions affecting millions of citizens. A recent report by the International Society of Economic Criminology (ISEC) reveals that 16% of Britons were asked to pay a bribe in the last year, and 9% admitted to paying one. These shocking statistics reveal just how pervasive bribery has become, reaching far beyond boardrooms and government offices.
What the survey reveals
The ISEC survey highlights a disturbing trend in the UK, with millions of ordinary people reporting being exposed to bribery in daily life. While the most common sectors affected include public services, transport, and healthcare, the problem is not confined to these areas. The bribery culture is widespread, affecting people’s interactions with public officials, businesses, and service providers alike.
These numbers tell us something crucial: bribery isn’t just a corporate crime or something limited to corrupt governments. It’s an issue that affects everyday people, and it’s happening in plain sight.
The hidden cost of bribery
The impact of bribery is not limited to the individual transaction itself. When informal payments are used to speed up processes or secure access, systems begin to operate on discretion rather than rules. This changes behaviour on both sides of the interaction. People are less likely to challenge poor processes or report concerns, and organisations receive fewer signals that something is going wrong.
Over time, this creates blind spots. Risks become harder to spot, patterns of misconduct go unrecorded, and accountability weakens. Access to services becomes uneven, favouring those who know how to navigate informal routes, while trust in institutions steadily erodes. The result is not just ethical risk, but operational and reputational exposure for organisations connected to these interactions, whether directly or indirectly.
The broader picture
The UK’s bribery problem is not unique. Around the world, corruption continues to hinder economic development and erode trust in both public and private institutions. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index shows that bribery remains a significant issue in many countries, particularly those where governments are unwilling or unable to take action against corrupt practices.
The UK has taken steps to combat corruption in recent years and continues to invest in enforcement and transparency measures. But as the ISEC survey shows, there’s still a long way to go.
Businesses are still exposed too
The ISEC findings align with the UK’s Economic Crime Survey, which showed that one in 35 UK businesses experienced bribery in the past year. This underlines that organisational exposure remains significant. Evidence of bribery in everyday interactions does not reduce the risk for organisations; it increases it. When bribery is present in routine dealings with customers, suppliers or public services, businesses are more likely to encounter it indirectly, through employees, third parties or intermediaries.
That exposure carries real consequences. Under the UK Bribery Act 2010, organisations can be held liable for bribes paid on their behalf, even where senior management had no direct knowledge. Penalties include unlimited fines, exclusion from public contracts and significant reputational damage.
The same dynamics affect public services. Where informal payments influence access or outcomes, efficiency suffers and trust declines. For organisations operating in or alongside these systems, weak controls and unclear boundaries increase both legal and operational risk.
Is there any good news?
Yes. The good news is that there are well-established steps businesses can take to reduce bribery risks, even where bribery is affecting everyday interactions. Here’s how:
- Implement anti-bribery policies: Make sure you have clear, written policies that prohibit bribery and corruption in all forms. These should cover relationships with both public officials and private entities.
- Conduct regular training: Employees need to understand the risks and the legal consequences of bribery. Regular training can help ensure that staff are well-versed in anti-bribery policies and know how to act if they encounter unethical behaviour.
- Encourage whistleblowing: Create safe, confidential channels for employees and third parties to report bribery and corruption. An open, transparent reporting system can help expose unethical practices early before they become entrenched. In the US, financial rewards for whistleblowers have demonstrably increased reporting, showing how incentives and protection can encourage people to come forward.
- Strengthen internal controls: Establish robust internal controls to detect and prevent bribery, including due diligence on third-party vendors, monitoring financial transactions, and auditing processes.
- Promote ethical culture: Set expectations from the top. When leadership consistently models ethical behaviour and supports those who raise concerns, it signals that integrity is not optional. A clear tone from senior management makes it easier for employees to speak up and reinforces that ethical behaviour is recognised and valued across the organisation.
The ISEC survey is a stark reminder for businesses and individuals alike. Bribery remains a widespread issue that affects not just organisations but the everyday lives of millions of people in the UK, making it essential for companies and law firms to understand and manage their bribery risks.
