Law to curb charities’ aggressive tactics announced by Prime Minister

Prime Minister David Cameron
Prime Minister David Cameron

A new law aimed at stopping charities’ “unacceptable behaviour” in taking advantage of people’s generosity has been announced by the Prime Minister.

David Cameron said the new law will require charities and fundraisers to draw up written agreements indicating how vulnerable people will be protected.

Mr Cameron said: “The conduct of some fundraisers used by them is frankly unacceptable and damages the reputation of the sector as a whole, which is why we’re introducing a new law to make sure charities raise funds in the right sort of way.”

The rules will compel charities whose incomes are over £1 million to detail in their trustees’ annual report their approach to fundraising, including the way in which they use professional agencies and their measures for protecting the vulnerable from aggressive tactics.

The measures will be brought in as amendments to the Charities Bill currently going through Westminster.

Civil Society Minister Rob Wilson said the new legislation would have “some impact on charities” as far as costs are concerned but that they would lose revenue if these incidents continued.

He added the UK government will establish a review panel to look at way to stop fundraisers finding loopholes in the system.

The panel will makes its report by September.

Charities’ aggressive methods came under the spotlight after the death of poppy seller Olive Cook, 92, in May.

Mrs Cook received 267 letters in a single month at one point, which led to suggestions the pressure led her to commit suicide. However, her family said the charities were not to blame.

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