The UK has stepped up the fight against international corruption affecting developing countries by launching the International Corruption Unit (ICU). The ICU is a joint unit of the Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police and National Crime Agency. It will be the central point for investigating corruption in the UK with a focus on preventive action and developing a more strategic approach to identifying and tackling corruption in the priority countries of the Department for International Development (DFID). With a budget of GBP 21 million, which will be provided by DFID up to 2020, the ICU is expected to tighten the supervision on money laundering and overseas bribery, which will result in increased enforcement. In launching this new crime unit, the UK wants to send the message that is has zero tolerance for overseas bribery and corruption.

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