The 1889 Act is aimed at payments to corrupt public officials
(defined as member, officer, or servant of a public body). This
covers, for example, bribes to secure a contract.
The Act says it is an offence for anyone corruptly to
solicit, receive or agree to receive, for himself or any other
person, any gift, loan, fee or reward, or other advantages as an
inducement to or as a reward for any member, officer or servant of
a public body doing or not doing anything in relation to any matter
in which the public body is concerned. It is similarly an offence
to give, promise or offer such a gift, loan, fee, reward or other
advantage.
The definition of ’public body', which was arguably
restricted to local bodies in the 1889 Act, was extended to central
government by the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. The definition
now includes “local and public authorities of all
descriptions”.
