Clifford Chance

UK Government unveils plans for Deferred Prosecution Agreements

18 May 2012

The UK Government has today announced details of its proposals  to enable companies to avoid prosecution in some cases. Deferred prosecution agreements ("DPAs"), whereby companies agree to pay penalties and take remedial action as an alternative to contested criminal proceedings, have been used extensively in the United States to conclude fraud and corruption investigations. The consultation paper released earlier today brings their use in the UK a step closer. Although DPAs are proposed to be made available to a number of agencies responsible for prosecuting serious economic crime, they are expected to be used principally by the Serious Fraud Office ("SFO").

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