Name

The forum will be named the North West Fraud Forum (hereinafter referred to as NWFF in this Constitution). All logos and designs appertaining to NWFF are protected by UK Copyright Law and are not to be embellished or reproduced without the proper grant of authority.

Address

The registered address of NWFF is:

6 Winckley Square
Preston
Lancashire
PR1 3JJ

Objectives

The objective of NWFF is to promote fraud awareness in organisations within the region and to deliver a programme of activity focused on detecting, reducing and preventing fraud.

To further this objective, NWFF’s principal activities will consist of, but are not limited to:

• Delivery of seminars, training and risk reduction advice to stakeholders within the region;
• Encouragement of collaboration (including the sharing of relevant knowledge and information) between members of the business community (public and private) to fight fraud and financial crime, and protect the North West economy;
• Development of, and active participation in, a credible lobbying position, representative of all NWFF members, to establish an effective response to fraud by the Government, business and the UK justice system.

Management

The day-to-day management operation of NWFF will be as follows:

• A Steering Group, limited to a number of 15 representatives, will be appointed from the public and private sector membership.
• The Steering Group will elect and appoint its own officers in the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer each to hold office for a period of not more than 2 years unless continuity circumstance dictates otherwise. Each officer will be responsible for the management role such positions dictate.
• A quorum will be 9 or more members of the Steering Group. If no quorum is present then decisions will need to be ratified at the next prearranged meeting of the Group.

Membership

• Any UK citizen or organization from the public or private sectors may apply for membership.
• The Steering Group will consider all applications for membership. Any person or organisation applying for membership will be required to abide by the Constitution of NWFF as well as any terms of reference deemed necessary.
• Organisations applying must name the person who will represent them at all NWFF meetings and undertake to notify NWFF of all changes in those representatives.
• NWFF retains the right to refuse any application for membership. No reason will be given and no further correspondence entered into.
• NWFF reserves the right to terminate the membership of any member for a serious breach, or breaches, of the terms of the membership and any such decision is final.
• Any appeal by an individual or organisation against expulsion must be submitted within 14 days in writing to the Secretary of the Steering Group.
• The Steering Group reserves the right to reject representatives of member organisations where they behave in a manner inappropriate to their representation or who may bring the whole forum into disrepute. The Steering Group will also decide what constitutes a serious breach.
• The Steering Group will periodically review the membership criteria and acceptance.
• A member organisation will have a maximum of 1 vote, regardless of the number or representatives it may have.
• A Member may at any time withdraw from NWFF by giving at least 7 clear days’ notice to the Secretary. Membership shall not be transferable and shall cease on death.

Membership Subscriptions

• Membership shall be conditional upon payment of an annual subscription for each financial year from 1st April to 31st March (the “Financial Year”), such payment to be made by no later than 31 March in each Financial Year in such sum as the Steering Group shall decide from time to time (“the Subscription Fee”). In the event that a Member has not paid the Subscription Fee by 30th June in the relevant Financial Year, he shall be deemed to have withdrawn from NWFF and shall not be entitled to receive Notice of, attend at or vote at any meeting thereafter.
• Members will be invited to attend seminars and conferences organised by NWFF, some of which may be charged at a reasonable rate of entry to cover costs. Funding
• NWFF shall be self-financing and will be non-profit making. All funds must only be used to achieve the objectives. In the event of closure of NWFF, all surplus funds held in accounts will be donated to a charity nominated by the Steering Group.
• The finances and financial records will be audited and submitted to the membership annually at the Annual Conference. A financial summary will be presented to the Steering Group on a quarterly basis. Accounts should be prepared for each year end at 31st March.
• Sponsorship or other applied for grant funds will be deposited to the held NWFF bank account and must only be used for recognized or indicated purpose at application.
• The Treasurer and Secretary of NWFF will manage the bank account. All expenditure must be authorized by any two of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer. There must be two signatories for any withdrawal.

Status of the organisation

• Recommendations by NWFF are not mandatory and the members are under no obligation to comply with them. Any such recommendation is implemented entirely at the member’s own risk and NWFF accepts no liability for any loss, howsoever caused.
• All members will be given equal rights and privileges. No member will be afforded greater voting rights than another. The independence of members will be respected.
• NWFF is a non-profit making organisation. All monies collected from membership, sponsorship and other contributions will be placed in a common fund and utilised to fund NWFF in terms of salaries, activities, research etc.

Amendments to the Constitution

• Amendments to the aforementioned NWFF Constitution will require a resolution of the Steering Group that must be supported by a majority of the members.