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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Black police group funding frozen | Black police group funding frozen |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| National Black Police Association funding has been frozen while accounts are studied for evidence of "improper activities", the Home Office has said. | National Black Police Association funding has been frozen while accounts are studied for evidence of "improper activities", the Home Office has said. |
| Improper financial actions could lead to a fraud investigation, it added. | Improper financial actions could lead to a fraud investigation, it added. |
| The NBPA's legal adviser, Ch Supt Ali Dizaei, said there were failures in the handling of finances but there had been no criminality or misconduct. | The NBPA's legal adviser, Ch Supt Ali Dizaei, said there were failures in the handling of finances but there had been no criminality or misconduct. |
| The association, which was told of the decision at the start of the month, received £180,000 funding last year. | The association, which was told of the decision at the start of the month, received £180,000 funding last year. |
| The NBPA, a registered charity, has not produced properly audited accounts since 2002/2003. | |
| The Home Office requires all organisations receiving grants of more than £100,000 to provide annual statements. | |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The [NBPA] cabinet were informed on 2 April that, due to inadequate financial controls and a lack of other financial management procedures being in place, their grant and grant in aid funding for administration was frozen with effect from 1 April." | A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The [NBPA] cabinet were informed on 2 April that, due to inadequate financial controls and a lack of other financial management procedures being in place, their grant and grant in aid funding for administration was frozen with effect from 1 April." |
| Leaked letter | Leaked letter |
| In December, the association, which has more than 10,000 members, announced that it had launched an internal inquiry to "improve the way financial transactions are decided, recorded and scrutinised". | In December, the association, which has more than 10,000 members, announced that it had launched an internal inquiry to "improve the way financial transactions are decided, recorded and scrutinised". |
| Accountants had been brought in to advise on financial matters, the association said. | Accountants had been brought in to advise on financial matters, the association said. |
| That followed Home Office concerns about whether the NBPA had ever produced properly audited accounts. | That followed Home Office concerns about whether the NBPA had ever produced properly audited accounts. |
| According to a letter sent to the NBPA on 4 April - obtained by the Police Review magazine - the Home Office has set out of a number of conditions to meet before funding will resume. | According to a letter sent to the NBPA on 4 April - obtained by the Police Review magazine - the Home Office has set out of a number of conditions to meet before funding will resume. |
| Ch Supt Ali Dizaei said the freezing of funds, which prevents any money leaving accounts, was an inconvenience that would "blow away". | Ch Supt Ali Dizaei said the freezing of funds, which prevents any money leaving accounts, was an inconvenience that would "blow away". |
| Should they [the audit team] identify any prima facie evidence of criminality or misconduct, we will then consider our response and take the necessary action IPCC | |
| The association had invited a review of its own finances and had then reported the results to the Home Office which was now conducting its own review, he said. | The association had invited a review of its own finances and had then reported the results to the Home Office which was now conducting its own review, he said. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it had been told in January about concerns over the management of NBPA funds. | |
| Chairman Nick Hardwick said: "We are maintaining contact with the audit team and, should they identify any prima facie evidence of criminality or misconduct, we will then consider our response and take the necessary action." | |
| The NBPA, formed in 1999, acts a support network and also aims to drive the recruitment and retention of black police officers. | The NBPA, formed in 1999, acts a support network and also aims to drive the recruitment and retention of black police officers. |