The UK is speeding up its work to investigate cases of international corruption affecting developing countries through a new specialist unit inaugurated by International Development Secretary, Justine Greening.
This was revealed in a statement on the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website.
According to the statement, the ICU will bring together existing investigation and intelligence units funded by the Department for International Development from the Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police and National Crime Agency.
The multi-agency team, the British government added, would be operated by the National Crime Agency and it would be the central point for investigating international corruption in the UK.
“Corruption is not only picking the pockets of the poor, it is an enemy of prosperity and a brake on a country’s development. Through the international corruption unit, the best of British law enforcement will step up our aid work combating corruption head on across the developing world,” Greening said.
Speaking on the new crime unit, the ICU Joint Head, Jon Benton, noted that he and his team would work to ensure that Nigeria and other developing countries got back looted funds stashed in the UK.
“The work we’re doing is absolutely vital for helping countries get back what is rightfully theirs. The message to individuals and companies who see developing countries as fair game is that the UK has zero tolerance for overseas bribery and corruption,” Benton stated.
Since 2006, the DFID-police units in the UK have investigated more than 150 cases of overseas bribery and recovered £200m of stolen assets as well as successfully prosecuting 27 individuals and one company.
For the ICU to take off successfully, the DFID will provide £21m for five years to 2020.
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