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This is what’s missing from the UK’s new anti-kleptocrat bill

Susan Hawley from Spotlight on Corruption walks us through the new Economic Crime Bill – and explains why it might be more bark than bite

By Susan Hawley
This is what’s missing from the UK’s new anti-kleptocrat bill
A new register is intended to tackle £170bn worth of foreign-owned property in the UK, but contains loopholes | Dmitry Vl. Smirnov / Alamy Stock Photo
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Will the new Economic Crime Bill that the UK government is now rushing through Parliament really put Londongrad out of business? The government says the legislation will help it get on top of Russian property in London, enforce sanctions, and bring more McMafia cases to tackle corruption and serious and organised crime. 

But there’s a risk the new measures will be more bark than bite – particularly if they aren’t coupled with a huge new investment in law enforcement.

Let’s take the new register of those who own UK property from overseas, which is intended to tackle the £170bn worth of foreign-owned property in this country. This legislation has been sitting on a government shelf for four years.

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