SFO Deepens Global Anti-Corruption Alliances with US & International Partners

Key Takeaways

• SFO Joins Global Anti-Corruption Alliance: The Serious Fraud Office has become a member of the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre to strengthen its international enforcement capabilities.
• Enhanced Intelligence Access: Membership provides the SFO with greater access to intelligence on overseas corruption involving politically exposed persons and multinational firms.
• Autonomy Maintained: While collaborating internationally, the SFO will retain full control over its investigations.
• Part of Broader Strategy: The move follows the formation of a tri-national taskforce with France and Switzerland and updated corporate guidance on reporting misconduct.
• Proven Global Impact: Since 2017, the IACCC has helped identify over £1.8 billion in stolen assets and aided investigations in over 40 countries.

Deep Dive

The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has stepped up its efforts to combat cross-border corruption by officially joining the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), an elite global law enforcement alliance housed within the UK’s National Crime Agency.

The move, announced on 26 June, deepens the SFO’s international capabilities and comes on the heels of its recent tri-national taskforce collaboration with France and Switzerland aimed at targeting international bribery and corruption. By joining the IACCC, the SFO gains direct access to a worldwide network of specialist investigators and intelligence sharing on politically exposed persons, multinational corporate actors, and high-value corruption schemes.

“This is another step forward for the SFO and further demonstration of our determination to use every power and partnership we can to confront the threat of bribery and corruption,” said SFO Director Nick Ephgrave QPM. “This membership will bring us closer to global law enforcement and strengthen our intelligence gathering capabilities.”

The SFO’s expanded international coordination doesn’t stop in Europe. Just a day after announcing its membership in the IACCC, Director Nick Ephgrave met with Matthew Galeotti, Head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, to reaffirm the longstanding SFO–DOJ partnership in tackling fraud, bribery, and corporate crime. The meeting highlighted both agencies’ shared commitment to promoting voluntary self-disclosure from companies and streamlining complex investigations to deliver justice more swiftly. It also follows the DOJ’s recent unveiling of a revamped white-collar crime enforcement plan, signaling a renewed focus on cross-border enforcement and joint action against financial misconduct.

The IACCC has played a crucial role in disrupting international corruption, helping identify over £1.8 billion in suspected stolen assets. Nearly half of those assets have been frozen, and the alliance has been instrumental in securing arrests and charges in over 40 countries.

Rob Jones, Director General of Operations at the NCA, welcomed the SFO into the alliance, stating, “Their membership will assist the collective effort of supporting overseas partners with hugely important investigations into grand corruption.”

The SFO emphasized that while it will now benefit from enhanced intelligence-sharing capabilities through the IACCC, it will retain full autonomy over its investigations. This collaboration is seen as a vital step in strengthening the UK’s global stance against complex financial crime, particularly those involving politically exposed persons and international business dealings.

The announcement follows the SFO’s release of updated corporate guidance on reporting suspected criminal conduct, reinforcing its push for proactive disclosures and cooperation from businesses operating in higher-risk jurisdictions.

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