When corrupt politicians public officials and business people steal public funds, they prefer to keep those funds in safe places. The UK is one such safe place. These funds laundered in and through the UK represent misery for millions of people around the world. The money has been stolen from health and education budgets, from infrastructure and law enforcement, and many other areas of public spending. This both degrades those services and removes funds that should rightfully be invested in their country of origin.

The funds can be laundered through legitimate businesses property, sporting clubs, gambling, expensive cars, jewellery, art, investing in the stock market, or buying a private education for relatives. The funds can also be held in cash, ready to move at a moment’s notice, or the UK financial and professional services industry can be used as part of a worldwide laundering process designed to hide the money’s origins.

Our report Corruption on Your Doorstep: How Corrupt Capital is used to Buy Property in the UK considered how the UK property market makes a house a home for the cash of the global corrupt.

In October we will be launching a new report which will look into how such Corrupt Capital is laundered through the UK facilitated by financial services, legal services and accountants, and settling in luxury goods markets, art, antiques and auction houses, and private and higher education services. 

On 27 October we will be hosting an panel event to discuss the findings of the report and recommendations for moving forward.