Commission reiterates alert to charities

The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is reiterating a recent alert to charities that could be affected by upcoming changes in legislation around fraud prevention. 

The alert from CCEW (the Charity Commission for England and Wales) is also applicable to affected charities in Northern Ireland. It relates to a new offence of failure to prevent fraud, which will come into force on 1 September to ensure large organisations are held to account if they profit from fraud.  The offence forms part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and will affect large, incorporated charities that meet at least two criteria: over 250 employees; over £36m in income; and over £18m in total assets. 

Affected charities are being urged to read the Home Office guidance, which sets out procedures that relevant bodies can put in place to prevent persons associated with them from committing fraud offences.