SFO Deferred Prosecution Agreements
This page contains copies of the Deferred Prosecution Agreements and supporting information for each of the SFO's twelve DPAs agreed to date.
A UK Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) is an agreement reached between a prosecutor and an organisation which could be prosecuted, under the supervision of a judge.
皇冠体育app agreement allows a prosecution to be suspended for a defined period, provided the organisation meets certain specified conditions.
DPAs can be used for fraud, bribery and other economic crime. 皇冠体育appy apply to organisations, never individuals.
皇冠体育app key features of DPAs are:
- 皇冠体育appy enable a corporate body to make full reparation for criminal behaviour without the collateral damage of a conviction
- 皇冠体育appy are concluded under the supervision of a judge, who must be convinced that the DPA is 鈥榠n the interests of justice鈥� and that the terms are 鈥榝air, reasonable and proportionate鈥�
- 皇冠体育appy avoid lengthy and costly trials
- 皇冠体育appy are transparent, public events
DPAs were introduced on 24 February 2014, under the provisions of聽. 皇冠体育appy are available to the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office. A聽聽for Prosecutors was published jointly by the SFO and CPS on 14 February 2014 after a public consultation.