The Bribery Act came into force today creating offences that carry prison terms of up to 10 years and unlimited fines.
The Act creates four distinct criminal offences of bribing another; being bribed; bribing a foreign official and (for commercial organisations) failing to prevent bribery.

Head of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “While the Act takes a robust approach to commercial bribery, it also applies to individuals who attempt to influence the application of rules, regulations and normal procedures.