LONDON — Britain’s Serious Fraud Office is developing plans to pay rewards to whistleblowers who report economic crimes such as fraud and bribery, the government said on Monday, according to Reuters.
The proposal would bring Britain closer to the model used in the United States, where financial incentives are offered to encourage people with inside knowledge to provide evidence that helps uncover wrongdoing. The change was recommended in a review of fraud prosecution published in July 2026.
How the scheme would work
Under the proposals, which have been put out for public consultation, a whistleblower would be eligible for a reward only if they provide significant, original information that leads to a conviction or another enforcement action, Reuters reported. Reports that do not result in enforcement would not qualify.
The Serious Fraud Office welcomed the consultation, saying it had long called for a scheme to incentivise whistleblowers, and encouraged anyone with a view to contribute before the government decides on next steps.
Supporters of reward schemes argue that complex fraud and bribery are difficult to detect from outside a company, and that insiders are more likely to come forward if they are compensated for the personal and professional risks involved. Critics of such schemes in past debates have raised concerns about paying for evidence and about the effect on internal company reporting channels.
The government has not announced a timetable for introducing a scheme, or the size of any rewards. Any final system would follow the consultation now under way.
