The UK anti-corruption reforms have taken a notable step forward, with the latest GRECO (Group of States Against Corruption) evaluation finding that the United Kingdom has satisfactorily implemented 8 out of 12 key recommendations aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in central government and police institutions. The progress, published on 27 November 2025, highlights substantial improvements while underscoring areas that still need legislative and procedural attention.
GRECO’s latest compliance report acknowledges a series of reforms designed to bolster integrity within ministerial offices, enhance police accountability, and modernize oversight mechanisms. These reforms align with long-term efforts to reinforce public trust and address concerns raised in earlier evaluations.
Strengthening Integrity in Central Government
One of the most significant areas of improvement is the UK’s updated Ministerial Code, which now enables independent investigations into alleged breaches. This marks a major shift from past frameworks, where enforcement relied heavily on internal decision-making processes.
The revised code includes:
- Clearer rules on declarations of interests, ensuring ministers publicly record financial interests, gifts, hospitality, and outside engagements.
- Stronger standards for senior officials, aligning them with integrity expectations applied to elected office holders.
- Enhanced transparency in ministerial conduct investigations, providing clearer procedures and communication to the public when breaches occur.
GRECO notes that these updates help address longstanding gaps in transparency and accountability across government leadership structures.
Police Integrity and Oversight Improvements
Reforms within policing agencies were equally notable. Across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, police bodies have:
- Integrated comprehensive ethical codes into officer training and professional development.
- Strengthened vetting, recruitment, and disciplinary systems to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure officers uphold national integrity standards.
- Expanded whistleblower protections, allowing officers to report misconduct through secure, confidential channels without fear of reprisal.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) also implemented a wide-ranging disciplinary policy and introduced new confidential reporting tools, marking a substantial improvement in internal governance and integrity monitoring.
Areas Requiring Further Action
Despite strong progress in many areas, GRECO notes that several recommendations remain only partly implemented or still pending. These include:
- Full disclosure obligations for special advisers, whose influence on political decision-making requires stronger transparency rules.
- Reforms to post-employment restrictions, aimed at preventing potential conflicts of interest for former ministers or high-ranking officials moving into private-sector roles.
- Continued updates related to the Lobbying Act, which governs interactions between lobbyists and public officials.
- Structural and clarity improvements for the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), particularly concerning enforcement powers and monitoring of post-government employment.
GRECO encourages the UK to continue refining these mechanisms to ensure that all actors in public life adhere to high ethical standards.
An Encouraging Shift Toward Ethical Governance
Overall, the report concludes that the UK has demonstrated meaningful progress in both central government and policing environments. While challenges remain, the reforms reflect a clear commitment to improving transparency, reinforcing institutional integrity, and rebuilding public confidence in governance.
Analysts and governance experts note that the UK’s ongoing engagement with GRECO’s recommendations is vital not only for domestic credibility but also for fulfilling international obligations related to corruption prevention, rule of law, and democratic accountability.
Source: Council of Europe / GRECO
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