On 20 October, the ICIJ reported that the United Kingdom’s Association of Company Registration Agents, a trade group representing firms that specialize in corporate secrecy has been lobbying the UK government to give its members a central role in efforts to counter the country’s reputation as a leading provider of front companies to organized crime groups, corrupt regimes and other criminals. It is urging government ministers to hire ACRA members to carry out identity verification checks on the owners of all firms listed at Companies House. ACRA is among a handful of organisations that have been appointed to an expert panel, advising the government on how best to implement Companies House reforms. Others on the panel include the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Institute of Directors, the Law Society, the National Economic Crime Centre and Transparency International.
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