Prevention of Corruption Act 1906
Encyclopedia
The Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 (6 Edw.7 c.34) was an Act
of the Parliament
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
(as it was then). It is one of the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1916.
Section 1 makes it an offence (formerly classified as a misdemeanour) subject to imprisonment up to 7 years:
The "principal" is the person the agent is employed by or acting for.
Anyone working for the government counts as an agent. (s.1(3))
In 2002, Part 12 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 extended this law for England, Wales and Northern Ireland internationally so that it could be exercised in cases where neither the agent's nor the principal's affairs had any connection with the UK. An equivalent change was made for Scotland by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.
A prosecution in England and Wales for an offence under this Act cannot be instituted without the consent of the Attorney-General
. This provides him with the power to discontinue an investigation that is working towards a prosecution under this Act.
The Act was repealed by the Bribery Act 2010
when it came into force on 1 July 2011.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
(as it was then). It is one of the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1916.
Section 1 makes it an offence (formerly classified as a misdemeanour) subject to imprisonment up to 7 years:
- for an agent to obtain a consideration as an inducement or reward for doing any act, or showing favour or disfavour to any person, in relation to his principal's affairs.
- for any person to give a consideration to an agent to induce him to do an act in relation to his principal's affairs.
- for any person or agent to knowingly falsify receipts, accounts or other documents with the intent to deceive the principal.
Agent and principal
An "agent" includes any person employed by or acting for another, and a "principal" includes an employer.The "principal" is the person the agent is employed by or acting for.
Anyone working for the government counts as an agent. (s.1(3))
In 2002, Part 12 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 extended this law for England, Wales and Northern Ireland internationally so that it could be exercised in cases where neither the agent's nor the principal's affairs had any connection with the UK. An equivalent change was made for Scotland by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.
A prosecution in England and Wales for an offence under this Act cannot be instituted without the consent of the Attorney-General
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
. This provides him with the power to discontinue an investigation that is working towards a prosecution under this Act.
The Act was repealed by the Bribery Act 2010
Bribery Act 2010
The Bribery Act 2010 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that covers the criminal law relating to bribery. Introduced to Parliament in the Queen's Speech in 2009 after several decades of reports and draft bills, the Act received the Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 following cross-party...
when it came into force on 1 July 2011.
External links
- The Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, as amended and in force today, from the Office of Public Sector InformationOffice of Public Sector InformationThe Office of Public Sector Information is the body responsible for the operation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and of other public information services of the United Kingdom...
. - List of amendments to this Act in the Republic of Ireland, from the Irish Statute Book.