Policy Scope:

This Policy covers all forms of sponsorship and donation coming into South Yorkshire Police from external sources that are additional to the core budget and resources already provided.  Examples being monies, use of resources, loan or provision of equipment OR provision of a service.

 In terms of sponsorship and donations this policy will affect all police personnel who intend to become involved in, or are currently involved in any activity that seeks to secure sponsorship or donation (see definitions in the Sponsorship and Donations Procedural Instructions D50188).

Policy Aims and Objectives:

The Policy intends to provide South Yorkshire Police with a corporate process for negotiating, managing and recording sponsorship and donation activity.

The associated procedural instructions detail the processes that are to be followed by South Yorkshire Police personnel involved in this activity.

Mandatory Responsibilities for Sponsorship and Donations

The Police Authority delegates to the Chief Constable and/or Clerk and Treasurer discretion to accept gifts, loans and sponsorship within the guidelines set out by this policy document.

This document sets out the policy of the Police Authority in relation to Section 93 of the Police Act 1996 (formerly Section 25 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994) as outlined in Financial Regulation 18.5.

Sponsorship and donations accepted by South Yorkshire Police

This register will be made available to the Treasurer of the Police Authority whose responsibility it will be to report the extent to which such additional resources have been received. Additionally, it is desirable for the Chief Constable to be made aware of other forms of revenue. 

The total value of gifts loans and sponsorship accepted should not exceed one percent of the Force budget annually. 

Suitability Checks
Sponsorship or donations offered by private companies or individuals will be subject to appropriate checks.  The process for checks is detailed in the associated procedural instructions.

Reporting Requirements

As soon as is practicable at the end of the financial year the details of all sponsorship/donation activity will be reported to the Police Authority Business Support Committee.   

Associated Procedural Instructions:

Inward Investment Procedural Instructions D51214

Sponsorship Procedural Instructions D50188

See also:

Code of Conduct for all SYP Personnel in Relation to Gifts, Gratuities and Hospitality D50159

Partnership Development and Governance within South Yorkshire D51388

Human Rights/Discretion

The purpose of providing policy is to give an indication to staff of the expected course of action. However, it is not possible to cater for every possible combination of factors that would justify a departure from stated policy. The Human Rights Act 1998 requires the proper use of discretion at all times and nothing within this policy and associated procedural instructions prohibits the proper use of discretion in appropriate circumstances.

Where action is taken that has the potential to interfere with an individual’s Human Rights, the reasons behind the making of the decision to act in that way should be recorded on the appropriate forms, or where this is not practicable, in pocket books or policy logs.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Exemptions do not apply to this statement of agreed policy under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Management of Police Information (MoPI)
This policy falls within MoPI: No

Audit /Review Arrangements:

This policy will be reviewed annually by Community Safety Department.

Rights of redress for members of the public:

Anyone who feels that a member of staff has behaved incorrectly or unfairly, or who is dissatisfied with organisational matters, service delivery or other operational policing issues, has the right to make a complaint.

Initial action should be taken in one of the following ways:  

• Complain in writing or in person to the Senior Officer at the appropriate police station or to the Chief Constable of the force concerned.
• Visit a local Citizens' Advice Bureau
• Contact a Solicitor

Rights of redress for South Yorkshire Police personnel:

South Yorkshire Police personnel who feel they have grounds for concern in relation to the implementation of policies may, as appropriate:

• Pursue concerns through their line manager.
• Contact a First Contact Advisor. 
• Pursue a grievance formally through the South Yorkshire Police Fairness at Work Procedure.
• Seek advice from their staff association or trades union.

• Use procedural instruction D50241 Management of Complaints, in the section entitled Handling Complaints relating to Direction and Control. 

Equality Act 2010: