TI-UK’s new handbook How to Bribe: a typology of bribe-paying and how to stop it’ draws on Transparency International’s global experience of legal cases and real-life stories to illustrate how bribes are paid in practice. From excessive hospitality to offshore agreements How to Bribe is designed to help individuals and companies anticipate recognise, avoid, and resist bribery.

Bribe-paying remains widespread. In a recent global survey by Transparency International more than a quarter of citizens told us that they had paid a bribe at least once in the past year. In some countries, the figure was as high as three people in every four. This clearly presents a major challenge for companies that operate in, or wish to operate in, those markets. However, before becoming complacent, remember to have a look at section three of this publication. Bribe-paying also happens here today in the UK.

This guide both identifies and categorises some of the different types of bribe, and the ways in which bribes are commonly demanded or paid. Bribes are often indirect and use more than one method, so often the mechanisms involved in routing bribes to their recipients are complex. While acknowledging this complexity, we have also tried to present them as simply as possible. We hope it will prove useful for anyone affected by the UK Bribery Act and similar legislation.