Powered by Lexis+®
Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Related legal acts
View More View Less

UK corporate failure to prevent fraud offence (ECCTA 2023): scope, group liability, reasonable procedures defence, enforcement, compliance frameworks for large organisations, and parallels with bribery and tax evasion offences

Practice notes
imgtext

This Practice Note examines in detail the failure to prevent fraud offence under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023). ECCTA 2023 obtained Royal Assent on 26 October 2023 and came into force on 1 September 2025 via the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Commencement No 4) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/349 (see: LNB News 17/03/2025 1). It sets out the offence’s constituent elements and overall scope, and compares it with the other corporate ‘failure to prevent’ offences concerning bribery and the facilitation of tax evasion. The Note also addresses the defence of having reasonable procedures to prevent fraud, describing what companies must build into their fraud prevention framework in order to rely on that defence in practice. Government statutory guidance has been issued on the offence, offering large organisations clear direction on the procedures to implement to prevent fraud. This guidance is essential reading for anyone advising in this area and can be accessed here.

Failure to prevent fraud offence

ECCTA 2023, s 199 establishes the corporate offence of failure to prevent fraud, adopting a framework akin to the existing failure to prevent bribery offence...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.
Web page updated on 22/05/2026

Popular documents

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Read More Right Arrow

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Read More Right Arrow

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Read More Right Arrow

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...

Read More Right Arrow