Criminal prosecutions for cartel offences

UK competition law regulates anti-competitive conduct, merger control and ensures markets are competitive. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the UK's economy wide competition authority established by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. While the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the principal UK competition authority, the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has the power to prosecute under section 190 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (EnA 2002). The SFO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CMA, allowing cartel offences to be investigated individually or jointly by the two bodies. See Practice Note: Memorandum of understanding—criminal investigations and prosecutions—Competition and Markets Authority.

For information on the broader regime for the regulation of competition in the UK, see: UK competition regime—overview, UK antitrust investigations and appeals–overview, UK market investigations as well as Practice Notes: Chapter I prohibition and Chapter II prohibition.

Competition and Markets Authority

The CMA was formed following the merger of the OFT and the Competition Commission. It assumed responsibility for enforcing competition law in the UK on 1 April 2014.

The

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Corporate Crime News

FCA initiates criminal proceedings against two individuals for alleged £2m fraud

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has started criminal proceedings against Kerry Nelson and Jacqueline Stephens for alleged fraud, forgery, and money laundering. Nelson, a director at Nexus Independent Financial Advisers Limited and Nexus Investment Managers Limited, and Stephens, a business operations manager at the same firms, are accused of defrauding four clients of £2m between January 2019 and January 2023. They allegedly used false documents in the fraud. Nelson also faces a money laundering charge for allegedly withdrawing funds to support her lifestyle. Nelson and Stephens appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 28 February 2025. Nelson pleaded not guilty to all offences, while Stephens gave no indication of plea. The case has been transferred to Portsmouth Crown Court, with their next appearance scheduled for 31 March 2025. Both individuals have been released on conditional bail.

DBT updates guidance on applying for a trade sanctions licence

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has revised its guidance on applying for a licence to provide sanctioned trade services. The revision consolidates the previously separate sections on purposes and licensing grounds, clarifying that the DBT considers licensing grounds to be examples of activities that align with the aim of sanctions. The guidance includes further examples of information that may be required before making an application for a licence. The guidance also states that due to case complexity, the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) cannot provide definitive timescales for application responses.

Insolvency Services reports prosecution of Devon taxi driver for BBL fraud

The Insolvency Service reports the prosecution of a Devon taxi driver for significant bounce back loan (BBL) fraud, resulting in a sentence period for two years and seven months. The taxi-driver, Murat Dogantekin fraudulently obtained two £50,000 loans by overstating his annual turnover by £388,500, when he was only entitled to £4,125 under the scheme. The funds were subsequently transferred to an offshore account and a family member, with no repayments made prior to Dogantekin's bankruptcy in November 2021.

FATF consulting on AML/CFT guidance and proliferation financing schemes

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has launched two public consultations. The first consultation seeks feedback on updated guidance for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures and financial inclusion, reflecting recent amendments to FATF standards on proportionality and simplified measures. The second consultation addresses complex proliferation financing and sanctions evasion schemes, following the October 2020 amendments to Recommendations one and two. Stakeholders can respond to the financial inclusion consultation until 4 April 2025 and the proliferation financing consultation until 21 March 2025. . Both consultations aim to enhance understanding and implementation of risk-based approaches in their respective areas.

View Corporate Crime by content type :

News