UK's anti-corruption strategy 2025: A clear call to action for business and government

• Enforcement: The government aims to harness new technology, including AI, to accelerate fraud and bribery investigations. Similarly, the government intends to expand the Domestic Corruption Unit to investigate national and regional cases in the UK.
• Professional enablers: The government is targeting “professional enablers,” such as lawyers, bankers, and accountants who facilitate the movement of corrupt funds. They plan to implement a dedicated coordinator who will drive stronger operational responses, broader sanctions, and review new activities under money laundering regulations. Business in these sectors should expect tighter scrutiny and a greater focus on ethical conduct.
• Reforming AML/CTF supervisory regime: The paper reiterated the move towards a single money laundering regulator for professional sectors, away from the current fragmented system. This will empower the FCA to take decisive action and improve transparency.
• Prevent illicit funds entering the UK: The government acknowledges that, although legislation exists to combat illicit funds both domestically and internationally, organised crime groups employ tactics that make it difficult to attribute liability. These challenges largely stem from evidential barriers. As a result, the strategy proposes introducing bespoke legislation aimed at addressing illicit funds, with a particular focus on kleptocracy.
• Enhanced whistleblower protection and reporting mechanisms: The government is reassessing the whistleblowing framework, exploring the introduction of financial incentives for whistleblowers and enhancing coordination of reporting channels. This reflects a move towards stricter internal reporting requirements and underscores the importance of implementing robust procedures.

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• Political donations: The strategy will tighten rules on political donations, requiring companies to declare ultimate funding sources and recipients to conduct risk assessment with enhanced due diligence. Non-compliance could lead to fines, so business involved in donations must ensure transparency and avoid any opaque funding. These reforms aim to close loopholes that allow proxy donations or hidden influence through shell companies.
• Insider threats in public services: To address insider risk, the strategy introduces national integrity screening for police and strengthens vetting for border force and prison staff, alongside improved access to information sharing on candidates. Within the Civil Service, the Internal Fraud Hub will expand beyond financial misconduct to include individuals dismissed for corruption related offences.
• Business integrity and corporate compliance: The strategy reinforces the commitment to stronger business integrity. Plans include launching an online anti-bribery resource hub on the government website to help companies assess risk and implement adequate procedures. The government also intends to broaden the Serious Fraud Office’s preventative role by providing guidance and insights to support proactive anti-bribery measures. In addition, incentives for corporate self-reporting will be introduced through the Serious Fraud Office’s guidance on co-operation and enforcement, signalling clear expectations for robust compliance frameworks, enhanced due diligence, and a culture of transparency.
• Responsible business conduct review: The government is reviewing its approach to responsible business conduct, including bribery, corruption and other ESG risk. The strategy underlines that it will incentivise companies to implement anti-bribery measures, include through access to public advantages. Thereby, firms that demonstrate strong governance and credentials may gain a competitive edge.
• Embedding anti-corruption in trade and development: The strategy underlines that UK Trade Agreements must include robust anti-corruption provisions and provide for monitoring and implementation after they come into force. UK firms operating abroad will benefit from fairer competition and stronger legal protections in markets where bribery has historically been a barrier.

• Building global resilience through partnership and standards: The strategy places the UK at the forefront in leading anti-corruption effort and standards setting. The UK plans to host a Countering Illicit Finance Summit in 2026, to discuss closing financial secrecy loopholes and sanctioning corrupt actors with other countries.
• Expanding oversea expertise: The UK will deploy illicit finance experts globally and strengthen ties with emerging financial hubs. Experts will help in intercepting illicit flows and improve AML standards in regions like Middle East and Asia, thereby, creating a more consistent and predictable compliance environment for firm’s operating in or with high-risk jurisdictions.
• Promoting beneficial ownership transparency: The strategy reaffirms the UK’s commitment to global transparency by pushing overseas territories and Crown Dependencies to implement accessible registers of beneficial ownership. Firms using complex or offshore structures should prepare for stricter disclosure requirements and ensure they have clear, documented beneficial ownership information.