 The Bill was given Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 , becoming the Bribery Act 2010 , and was expected to come into force immediately . The government instead chose to hold several rounds of public consultations before announcing that it would come into force in April 2011 . Following the publication of guidance by the Ministry of Justice , the act came into effect on 1 July 2011 . The Ministry of Justice also released a Quick Start Guide , which highlights some key points of the Act . The Quick Start Guide also suggests companies to consult relevant bodies for advice , including the UK Trade and Investment , and the government sponsored Business Anti @-@ Corruption Portal . In October 2011 Munir Patel , a clerk at Redbridge Magistrates Court , became the first person to be convicted under the Bribery Act , along with misconduct in a public office . 
