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Why ECCTA 2023 will not deliver UK corporate fraud convictions: expanded identification principle, failure-to-prevent offence and 'adequate procedures' defence versus vicarious liability

Published on: 24 March 2025

Published by a Law360 reporter
Legal News
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Article summary

The ECCTA 2023 obtained Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, and is being rolled out gradually in stages across the UK. The legislation aims to bolster corporate openness and visibility, enhance the UK's capacity to combat economic crime meaningfully and widen enforcement powers—especially regarding crypto-assets, fraud prevention and relevant company rules. Before ultimately taking office in 2024, the Labour Party condemned the failure to secure criminal convictions against financial services firms for wrongdoing linked to the 2008 financial crisis. Did they have a fair argument? Were the corporate criminal liability provisions then in force adequate? Should the Labour government reopen this field to craft effective measures to address corporate wrongdoing? Regrettably, recent Conservative reforms appear to have set the UK on a course likely to underperform and potentially be hard for Labour to unwind swiftly. The chances of achieving successful prosecutions are slight.

Looking back at Labour Party policy

Recognising shortcomings in criminal justice exposed by the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR); the Euro interbank offered rate (EIOR); and foreign exchange scandals, Labour’s 2013 crime policy review declared: 'we need to have an up-to-date law on corporate criminal liability.' Barclays faced prosecution in 2017 in connection with alleged fraudulent misconduct...

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