UK OFSI strategy for 2026–2029

The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has published its strategy for 2026–2029. The strategy is based around the "Promote, Enable, Respond and Change" (PERC) framework:

• Promote: To shape expectations and set the standard, OFSI will run targeted campaigns for priority sectors; publish clear guidance products and assessments showing what non-compliance is and how to avoid it; and work with domestic and international regulators to promote consistency. "Promote" key performance indicators (KPIs) include sector-specific engagement campaigns and delivering joint or co-branded public output (such as joint guidance, public statements, case studies or advisories) with international partners on a quarterly basis.
• Enable: OFSI will remove friction for legitimate activity and support sanctions compliance behaviour that is fast, predictable and scalable by encouraging early engagement from firms to address risks or uncertainties, providing direct, practical compliance advice on complex scenarios, and maintaining an effective and regularly updated licensing offer with high, publicised service standards. Engagement will be modern and digital by default, including online services, reporting and forms, supported by enhanced data use, data sharing and AI enabled workflows. The "enable" KPI is to close 50% of licensing cases within six months.
• Respond: OFSI will protect the system through visible, timely and proportionate enforcement by prioritising evidence led cases that target the highest risks. It will use analytics to identify networks, typologies and repeat behaviours, deploy its full toolkit across financial sanctions, and ensure public enforcement outcomes are fast and as impactful as possible. OFSI will also robustly defend litigation, strengthen the legislative framework, apply best practice case management, and work closely with UK regulators and enforcement partners to ensure complementary action. "Respond" KPIs include submitting 90% of new enforcement investigations for decision within 18 months of commencement of investigation, and increasing intelligence-originated case outcomes in financial year 2027/28 and 2028/29.
• Change: To embed lasting behaviour changes across the financial sanctions' system and all of its actors, OFSI will use feedback loops (including guidance and lessons learned, and learning from industry and government partners), ensure all new and updated sanctions enable practical implementation, both domestically and internationally, and use AI-enabled workflows to enhance its services. "Change" KPIs include submitting 90% of new enforcement investigations for decision within 18 months of commencement and increasing intelligence led case outcomes in financial year 2027/28 and 2028/29.

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