UK: Regulator steps up campaign against price-fixing cartels

According to The Telegraph, the UK’s competition watchdog is launching a crackdown on cartels after the success of its first advertising campaign led to a rise in tip-offs about illegal activity. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) paid for advertisements for the first time last year to encourage tip-offs about potential price-fixing activity.

Sponsored posts on social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn helped lead to a 30% rise in tip-offs to 375, compared with 288 in 2016. The campaign’s success also meant the CMA secured an extra £2.8 million (US$3 million) from the Government in the Budget to pursue such enforcement work.

Stephen Blake, the CMA’s senior director for cartels, said its 2018 campaign encouraged those involved in cartel activity to report their involvement in return for a lenient punishment or immunity and urged witnesses to come forward, with the knowledge their identity would be kept secret.

The campaign will target a range of industries the CMA believes are at greater risk of cartels forming, including construction, manufacturing and business support services.

Full Content: The Telegraph

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