CMA fines construction firm and employees over alleged evidence concealment during bid-rigging investigation
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The CMA is investigating suspected bid-rigging in roofing and other construction services supplied to schools and other public and private sector bodies. The authority says no assumption should yet be made that competition law was infringed, and it has not issued a statement of objections.
The CMA issued final administrative penalty decisions on 17 September 2026 against M&J Group (Construction & Roofing) Ltd and employees Barry Pirrie and Tracey Woods. The penalties concerned alleged failures, without reasonable excuse, to comply with investigatory requirements during a warrant inspection, including the duty to preserve relevant documents; they do not establish the underlying bid-rigging allegations.
The case highlights the need for effective document-preservation controls and prompt escalation when an investigation or inspection begins. Procurement-related competition risks also require clear tendering controls and monitoring.