Millions of people in the UK are being drawn into bribery and money laundering, according to new study

By Georgie Gould

Bribery and money laundering are far more common among the public than many assume, with millions of people in the UK approached to take part in these activities in the past year, according to a new report co-authored by a researcher from the University of Surrey on behalf of the International Society of Economic Criminology (ISEC).

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The report found that 16% of UK adults had been asked for a bribe in the last 12 months and 11% (5.8 million UK adults per year) had been asked to help move money that could be linked to crime. Of those approached, over half agreed to take part.

Worse still, in 2023, 9% of respondents consented to pay a bribe and 7% engaged in money muling (acts that facilitate money laundering).

The risk of people taking part in these activities is concentrated among younger adults and men. In the 18 to 40 group, 29% were asked for a bribe and 16% paid. For money mulling, 22% were asked and 13% took part.

Men reported higher exposure than women across both behaviours. Requests cluster in the private sector (including the finance sector) at 56%, public sector at 25%, the charity sector at 10%, and 8% other/unknown sectors.

These findings are a wake-up call. Corruption is not something that happens far away or only in high-powered boardrooms, or in the movies. It is happening in everyday life – in workplaces, in financial dealings and in routine transactions. Most worryingly, people are being drawn in because it is presented as normal or easy and that normalisation is how corruption spreads.

Police record only around 100 to 170 corruption offences a year, compared with roughly 2,000 to 3,700 money laundering offences, yet the survey points to far wider hidden behaviour. The gap between lived experience and official statistics is stark. Dr Jack Whittaker, Co-author of the report and Lecturer in Criminology

The research team used an anonymous online survey of 1,000 UK adults, recruited to reflect the national population by age, gender and region. Respondents were asked whether they had been offered or asked for bribes, or invited to receive and transfer funds for others, in the previous year. The approach allowed people to disclose sensitive experiences without fear of judgement or legal consequence, providing a clearer picture of what is happening behind closed doors.

The study highlights a major gap between what is recorded and what is happening in reality. Police record a few hundred bribery offences each year, but the survey suggests millions of people may have encountered bribery requests. Similarly, while around 3,000 money laundering offences are recorded annually, tens of thousands of people may be participating in money mulling unknowingly or under pressure.

The UK needs stronger public awareness about how bribery and money mulling operate, alongside support for people at risk of being targeted. This includes clearer education in schools and universities, more visible communication from banks and employers, and practical advice for anyone unsure whether an offer they receive is legitimate. Dr Jack Whittaker, Lecturer in Criminology

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