Spotlight on Corruption has published an analysis of the acquittal of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde following a UK bribery prosecution. The analysis states that the case raises issues concerning the UK’s approach to complex foreign corruption prosecutions. It identifies the scope of the charges, unresolved allegations concerning Nigerian oil revenues and related asset recovery proceedings, National Crime Agency resourcing and retention issues, disclosure burdens, cross-border evidence gathering and wider criminal justice capacity as relevant considerations. It also notes criticism concerning the prosecution of overseas public corruption before a British jury. The analysis concludes that the outcome has implications for international anti-corruption enforcement and for the UK’s institutional capacity to pursue complex economic crime cases.

Spotlight on Corruption has published an analysis of recent government changes to the rules governing how UK firms mitigate and manage money laundering risks, following the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2026 laid before Parliament on 25 March 2026. The changes narrow enhanced due diligence (EDD) requirements, limiting them to ‘usually complex’ transactions rather than all ‘complex or unusually large’ transactions. and restrict their application to countries on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist rather than the grey list. While welcoming most of the changes, Spotlight on Corruption raises concerns that firms may exploit the relaxed EDD requirements to reduce compliance costs rather than redirect resources to higher-risk activities. It highlights the importance of robust oversight by anti-money laundering (AML) supervisors, including monitoring whether firms genuinely prioritise high-risk transactions and scrutinising how they assess what constitutes high-risk activity requiring EDD.

Spotlight on Corruption has published an analysis of the UK’s sanctions strategy, titled ‘Deter, disrupt and demonstrate – UK sanctions in a contested world: UK sanctions strategy’ which was published by the government on 22 February 2024. Spotlight on Corruption addresses what the strategy says about sanctioning corruption, sanction enforcement and legal challenges to sanctions. Spotlight on Corruption has also noted the possibility for a ‘fuller strategy’ for how the government will utilise anti-corruption sanctions ‘to tackle kleptocracy and grand corruption in its long awaited Anti-Corruption Strategy’.

Spotlight on Corruption published an analysis examining government plans to establish a National Police Service (NPS), which would merge the National Crime Agency (NCA) and its economic crime units. The charity identifies potential benefits, including resolving NCA recruitment challenges, while warning of risks stemming from the proposed Home Secretary powers to direct police priorities. The analysis also notes that the NCA will not be transferred to the NPS until after the next election. This timing coincides with an upcoming FATF review of the UK and a London summit on illicit finance in June 2026.

Following the publication of the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) new corporate guidance setting out expectations for Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) and corporate cooperation, Spotlight on Corruption considers whether it will work to tackle corporate crime or whether the guidance is lacking. The guidance promises accelerated response times and clear timelines for investigations, while requiring companies to identify all persons involved in wrongdoing. This forms part of Director Nick Ephgrave's strategy to increase enforcement, following recent investigations into Thales for bribery and the first contested 'failure to prevent bribery' trial. The guidance aims to address declining corporate self-reporting, though critics note it maintains similar treatment for proactive and reactive cooperation.

Spotlight on Corruption and the International Lawyers Project(ILP) have submitted joint written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) sanctions inquiry, proposing nine recommendations to enhance UK sanctions effectiveness. The submission calls for establishment of an independent expert panel, creation of a public sanctions transparency tracker, and review of Global Anti-Corruption (GAC) regime limitations. Additional proposals include cross-committee parliamentary oversight, integration with law enforcement tools, and new measures such as professional services restrictions for designated persons. The submission also recommends mandatory consideration of parliamentary committee designation suggestions and a comprehensive review of Magnitsky-style sanctions regimes by their fifth anniversary.

Spotlight on Corruption has announced the findings from HM Treasury's (HMT)'s first Economic Crime Levy (ECL) analysis. The ECL report details 2023–24 spending, with £42.7m invested in technology including Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) portals and data systems, £6m towards funding 100 Financial Intelligence Unit staff in the UK, and £12.7m supporting 396 new enforcement positions across UK agencies. While money laundering prosecutions increased 10% in 2023–24 and asset recovery reached £243.3m, this represents just 0.2% of the National Crime Agency's (NCA) estimated £100bn laundered annually through the UK. The report highlights staff retention challenges at the NCA and questions the £20m allocation to Companies House in light of recent fee increases. Spotlight on Corruption recommends creating an Economic Crime Fighting Fund combining ECL funds with enforcement receipts to enhance funding sustainability.

Spotlight on Corruption has highlighted the importance of effective enforcement of Companies House’s new identity verification requirements under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023) to help prevent the UK corporate registry being used by fraudsters, kleptocrats and other bad actors to conceal identities, launder money and hide illicit assets. It notes that Companies House issued 983,000 non-compliance letters between November 2025 and May 2026 to businesses whose directors and controlling shareholders failed to comply with the new requirements, with 183,000 persons with significant control recorded as in default. Spotlight on Corruption also observes that the regime remains in a transitional phase ahead of full enforcement powers becoming available in November 2026. It argues that warning letters alone may not be sufficient and that the success of the reforms will depend on consistent enforcement, the use of available sanctions where appropriate and the closure of remaining gaps in the verification framework ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 2027 mutual evaluation.

Spotlight on Corruption has called for a full, independent judge-led inquiry into the UK government’s role following the acquittal of Jeffery Cook and John Mason for making corrupt payments in relation to a bribery scheme involving UK government defence contracts in Saudi Arabia. Spotlight on Corruption said that the inquiry is essential to discover the role the Ministry of Defence (MOD) played in relation to the arrangements and how it conducted itself in relation to the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) investigation. Spotlight on Corruption has also called on: the National Audit Office (NAO) to audit the MOD’s accounts and contracting arrangements on the matter and publish a report in its findings; and the Defence Select Committee to undertake a review of the MOD’s policies and procedures to prevent bribery and protect whistleblowers.

Spotlight on Corruption and Transparency International UK has called for a National Audit Office inquiry into the involvement of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in UK and Saudi Arabia bribes. The call follows the recent acquittal of two individuals accused of corruption in which allegations came to light that the MoD facilitated or signed off on payments to public figures in Saudi Arabia. Spotlight on Corruption and Transparency International UK have asked for a response from the MoD on or before 9 April 2024.

Spotlight on Corruption has published an analysis calling for the UK to establish a dedicated sanctions regime targeting environmental crimes. The proposal aims to address the £100bn in illicit funds estimated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to flow through the UK annually, including proceeds from environmental crimes. The organisation highlights current enforcement limitations, noting only £2,455 was recovered from wildlife crime in 2020. The proposed regime would complement existing anti-corruption and human rights sanctions frameworks, targeting criminal networks involved in illegal wildlife trade, deforestation and carbon offset fraud.

Spotlight on Corruption has published analysis showing that the misconduct in public office (MIPO) offence is predominantly used against junior police and prison staff, with only 2% of convictions involving senior officials. The organisation convened a roundtable to discuss implementing the Law Commission's 2021 recommendation to replace MIPO with a new 'corruption in public office' offence. The analysis reveals that 92% of MIPO convictions since 2014 involved junior staff, while financial crimes represented only 4% of cases. The roundtable identified drafting issues in the Commission's proposed offence that could hinder prosecution.