I was pleased to give a talk at Transparency International this lunchtime. Below are some of the key points I made:
.@Nicholas_gilby was in our office today to talk about his new book ‘Deception in High Places’. Tweets that follow from the discussion.
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@Nicholas_gilby: small steps to make defence corruption harder: better export standards, corporate disclosures, better gvt. oversight. — TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@nicholas_gilby: Want bribe? be dodgy leader, have trusted associate approach company w/ offshore account & say ‘here’s how to get a deal’
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@nicholas_gilby: the relationship between diplomacy & defence industry is too often intertwined, making grand corruption harder to fight
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@nicholas_gilby: big anti-corruption step in UK defence would be requiring co.s to be transparent about commissions to get export license
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@nicholas_gilby: deliberate mechanism relying on ‘assurances’ from contractors allows to turn a blind eye; MOD audits needed.
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
How to fight defence corruption? @nicholas_gilby: 1 -pressure MOD to audit, 2 – lower tripwires in export licensing, 3 – tougher penalties
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
I think rather than “lower tripwires” I should have said “lower barriers to prosecution using the export licencing process”.
.@nicholas_gilby: Key Q of the #armstreaty: how will we get from treaty signing to changed behaviour and more prosecution?
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@nicholas_gilby: Within MODs, the revolving door is too often available-if you don’t rock the boat. Limits reporting, challenging system
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@nicholas_gilby: West can’t pander to the idea that this is “their problem, over there.” People everywhere don’t want corrupt leaders.
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014
.@nicholas_gilby: voluntary restraint by defence companies alone simply hasn’t worked.
— TI Defence&Security (@TIdefenceteam) July 31, 2014