Offence Codes

Any offences will be dealt with using our Disciplinary Policy which is available upon request.

All offences must be reported to a committee member by means of formal communication, i.e. a handwritten letter, an email from a private account, or a text message from the reporter’s phone.

Any offences will be dealt with using our Disciplinary Policy which is available upon request.

All offences must be reported to a committee member by means of formal communication, i.e. a handwritten letter, an email from a private account, or a text message from the reporter’s phone.

Any offences will be dealt with using our Disciplinary Policy which is available upon request.

All offences must be reported to a committee member by means of formal communication, i.e. a handwritten letter, an email from a private account, or a text message from the reporter’s phone.

Any offences will be dealt with using our Disciplinary Policy which is available upon request.

All offences must be reported to a committee member by means of formal communication, i.e. a handwritten letter, an email from a private account, or a text message from the reporter’s phone.

Any offences will be dealt with using our Disciplinary Policy which is available upon request.

All offences must be reported to a committee member by means of formal communication, i.e. a handwritten letter, an email from a private account, or a text message from the reporter’s phone.

6.0 DISCIPLINE

6.1 It is the responsibility of all members to inform the Committee of any conduct on Society premises, associated media or angling facilities under the control of the Society by any person, whether or not they are a member of the Society, that is illegal, unsafe, dishonest, discreditable, ungentlemanly, or contrary to the rules and aims of the Society as agreed by the membership at that time.

6.2 The Committee may take disciplinary action against any person who is suspected of breaking any Society Rule or whose conduct is otherwise objectionable or is liable to bring the Society into disrepute. Such person or persons shall be asked to appear before a disciplinary sub-committee, where all evidence shall be considered.

6.3 The Secretary, or in their absence the Chair or Treasurer, shall establish an investigation committee of three persons to consider the matter not later than 14 days after notification of the incident.

6.4 The Secretary, Chair or Treasurer shall in the intervening period obtain statements in writing from both the accused and the accuser, and, if necessary, from any witnesses, and will lay those statements before the Investigation Committee when it meets.

6.5 Any person who is suspected of committing an offence against Society Rules shall have their card removed and their membership suspended pending investigation. Such period of suspension shall count towards their overall sanction should one be applied.

6.6 The Investigation Committee, having examined the evidence, may decide:

1. That there is no case to answer, in which case the accuser and accused will be informed by the Secretary that the matter is closed.

or

2. That there is a case to answer, in which case the matter shall be the subject of a disciplinary hearing.

6.7 If there is a case to answer, the Secretary, or in their absence, the Chair or Treasurer will establish a Disciplinary Committee comprising three persons who shall conduct the disciplinary hearing within 28 days of the meeting held under 6.3 above.

6.8 At the disciplinary hearing all parties to the incident may attend in person, and the accused may be accompanied by a friend. This friend will take no part in the proceedings. Should the accused or any other person connected with the matter wish not to attend, they can submit a full written submission which will be considered as if they were in attendance. If the accused does not attend they shall be entitled to receive a copy of the record of the hearing within 7 days of it taking place, or within 3 days of requesting it, whichever is later.

6.9 The Disciplinary Committee will consider all written evidence as well as oral submissions when reaching its decision.

6.10 The Disciplinary Committee shall first decide whether the allegation has been proved.

6.11 If it decides that the allegation has not been proved it shall declare formally that the matter is closed.

6.12 If it decides that the allegation has been proved, the Disciplinary Committee may impose one or more of the following penalties:

1. A verbal warning.

2. A written reprimand.

3. Withdrawal of the right to use the Society’s waters for a fixed period of time, the minimum being one month and the maximum being five years.

4. Withdrawal of the right to use the Society’s facilities for a fixed period of time, the minimum being one month and the maximum being five years.

5. Withdrawal of all membership rights for a fixed period of time, the minimum being one year and the maximum being ten years.

6. Immediate termination of membership of the Society or, in the case of a non-member, immediate withdrawal of the right to use any of the Society’s facilities.

6.13 All proceedings of the Investigation and Disciplinary Committees under 6.3 and 6.5 above shall be fully minuted.

6.14 Any person who disputes any decision, whether as to liability or penalty, by the Disciplinary Committee may appeal against that decision by serving upon the Secretary within 7 days a notice of appeal in writing. This should be accompanied by a security of £150.00. Should the appeal be successful the security will be returned in full. In the event of the appeal being unsuccessful the security will be forfeited and the sanction may be increased. An appeal will only be deemed successful if the allegation is found not to have been proved.

6.15 Upon receipt of such a notice of appeal, the Secretary, or in their absence, the Chair or Treasurer will appoint an Appeal Committee consisting of three persons to hear the appeal. No member of this Appeal Committee will have been involved in the previous investigations or hearings.

6.16 The appeal shall take the form of a rehearing, and the Appeal Committee shall not be entitled to enquire into the manner in which the Disciplinary Committee reached its decision.

6.17 On the hearing of the appeal by the Appeal Committee the provisions of clauses 6.7 to 6.12 inclusive shall apply.

6.18 All decisions on disciplinary matters by the Investigation Committee, the Disciplinary Committee and the Appeal Committee shall be reached by means of a vote by those attending and eligible to vote. A simple majority will decide the issue and, if necessary, the Chair shall have a second, or casting, vote.

6.19 On completion of the Disciplinary Proceedings a full report shall be made to the General Committee.

6.20 Littering of Society waters will be viewed as an extremely serious offence.

6.21 Non-compliance with any determination made by the Disciplinary Committee or Appeal Committee will lead to a lifetime ban from membership.

6.22 Any member who receives a sanction for breach of rules shall have no claim to a refund of subscriptions paid.

6.23 Persons who are suspended, or who have had their membership terminated, shall not be permitted to fish as a guest.

6.24 Any person whose membership is suspended for a period of 12 months or more will be eligible to reapply for membership of the Society on completion of their suspension. If their application is successful a joining fee will apply.

6.25 Any person who has received a sanction under paragraph 6.12, sub-paragraphs 3 to 6 inclusive will not be entitled to attend any meeting nor be entitled to any voting rights during the period of the sanction.

6.26 Any person who may be considered for immediate termination of membership or a life ban will be offered the option to resign their membership.