UK falling short in anti-corruption action: study
Source: Agencies |
June 16, 2011, Thursday
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CORRUPTION is a much larger problem in Britain than acknowledged and key institutions are refusing to confront the problem, a global watchdog warned.
Transparency International UK called the findings of its two-year study into corruption in the UK a "corruption health-check" for the country - with a diagnosis of "growing threat, inadequate response."
The group said its research found that corruption is flourishing in some parts of the UK and there is "disturbing evidence" of denial in policy responses to the issue.
"There is complacency and a lack of knowledge of the extent of corruption in key sectors and institutions," according to the study, which examined 23 sectors.
"For every institution or agency that recognizes the problem of corruption and makes an effective effort to tackle it, there is another, facing the same degree of corruption risk, that ignores it."
The report noted that some sectors should be commended for tackling corruption, but that political parties, prisons, sports and Parliament are a "major issue of concern."
Transparency International confessed it was difficult to measure the prevalence of corruption in the UK because official data and statistics often categorize offenses under more general headings, such as fraud.
In addition, the group noted that there are at least 12 different agencies or government departments with partial responsibility for anti-corruption activities, plus more than 40 police forces - leading to patchy and uncoordinated responses.
"The policy response is incoherent and uncoordinated," the report said. "This inadequate response has in certain areas created a culture of impunity." For those reasons, corruption often goes unrecognized or unreported - which Transparency International said makes its research preliminary.
The group said its findings could just be "the tip of an iceberg" and called for more research into corruption and a coherent approach to tackling the issue.
Transparency International UK called the findings of its two-year study into corruption in the UK a "corruption health-check" for the country - with a diagnosis of "growing threat, inadequate response."
The group said its research found that corruption is flourishing in some parts of the UK and there is "disturbing evidence" of denial in policy responses to the issue.
"There is complacency and a lack of knowledge of the extent of corruption in key sectors and institutions," according to the study, which examined 23 sectors.
"For every institution or agency that recognizes the problem of corruption and makes an effective effort to tackle it, there is another, facing the same degree of corruption risk, that ignores it."
The report noted that some sectors should be commended for tackling corruption, but that political parties, prisons, sports and Parliament are a "major issue of concern."
Transparency International confessed it was difficult to measure the prevalence of corruption in the UK because official data and statistics often categorize offenses under more general headings, such as fraud.
In addition, the group noted that there are at least 12 different agencies or government departments with partial responsibility for anti-corruption activities, plus more than 40 police forces - leading to patchy and uncoordinated responses.
"The policy response is incoherent and uncoordinated," the report said. "This inadequate response has in certain areas created a culture of impunity." For those reasons, corruption often goes unrecognized or unreported - which Transparency International said makes its research preliminary.
The group said its findings could just be "the tip of an iceberg" and called for more research into corruption and a coherent approach to tackling the issue.
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