Not protectively marked © IPA Section UK 19th June 2010 INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION Section UNITED KINGDOM www.ipa-uk.org Constitution & Rules Last updated on the 19th June 2010 by the National Council at Felbridge, West Sussex (11Region) Exclusive rights of copy apply to this document. Persons may not, without the written consent of the National Council of Section United Kingdom • produce copies or reproductions of the document • create documents that adapt the original • display the document publicly • forward to any IPA office holder without appropriate duty of care, i.e. keep a record of who has been sent details and ensure the recipient is aware of the Directive on Data Protection Page 1 of 25 Not protectively marked © IPA Section UK 19th June 2010 Page 2 of 25 Not protectively marked © IPA Section UK 19th June 2010 Constitution Article I - Title and Motto 1 The name of the Association shall be in English and shall be ‘The International Police Association’. Its Motto shall be in Esperanto and shall be ‘Servo per Amikeco’ (‘Service through Friendship’). Article II - Aims and Objects 2 To link together, in a sense of service and friendship, all serving and retired members of the Police Service of member countries. 3 To organise exchange holidays, pen-friendships and group visits. 4 To organise and stimulate the work of public service, to promote respect for law and order and, when the opportunity arises, to engage in, and develop, social and cultural activities and a broadening of knowledge by promoting professional and educational exchanges between member countries. 5 To exchange publications regularly among National Sections with a view to encouraging relations between members of the International Police Association throughout the world. 6 To establish a correspondence service to inform members of all subjects of interest to the International Police Association. 7 To publish a journal, dedicated to the aforementioned objectives. Article III - Powers 8 Powers 8.1 With a view to the attainment of the objects the Association shall have Page 3 of 25 Not protectively marked © IPA Section UK 19th June 2010 the following powers: a To arrange organised courses of instruction, conferences or debate on any one or more of the objects of the Association on such terms and conditions and upon the payment of such fees (if any) as may from time to time be determined; b To purchase or otherwise acquire any land or buildings to be used for any purpose of the Association and generally any property, real or personal or any estate or interest therein, required for any purpose of the Association, and to hold, sell, lease, deal with and dispose of the same in such manner as may be thought expedient for the purpose of the Association; c To borrow or raise money, and to mortgage and charge all or any part of the property of the Association for the purpose of promoting its objects; d To co-operate with or subscribe to any other association, institute, society or corporation in any part of the world, whose objects are, or include, objects in general respects similar to the objects of the Association; e To undertake and execute any trusts which may lawfully be undertaken by the Association and in case the Association shall take or hold any property which may be subject to any trusts, the Association shall only deal with or invest the same in such manner as allowed by law, having regard to such trusts; f To accept and use gifts of money or other property received for any one or more of the objects of the Association; g To invest and deal with any monies of the Association not immediately required for its objects in or upon such investments and in such manner as may be thought fit; h To take such steps by personal or written appeals, public meetings or otherwise as may from time to time be deemed expedient for the purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Association in the form of donations or otherwise; i To establish and support or aid in the establishment and support of any charitable association or institutions, and to subscribe or guarantee any money for charitable purposes in any way connected with the objects of the Association; j To publish or procure the publication and circulation of books, periodicals and pamphlets relating to the objects of the Association; k To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them. 8.2 Provided that the Association may not engage in any activity: Page 4 of 25 Not protectively marked © IPA Section UK 19th June 2010 a which might interfere with the ordinary activities of any Police Organisation; b of a political or racial nature; c directly or indirectly concerned with pay, pensions or the conditions of service of any Police Service. 8.3 The Association shall not support with its funds any object, or endeavour to impose on or procure to be observed by its members or others any regulation, restriction, or condition which will in any way contravene the provisions of paragraph 8.1 above. Article IV - Composition of Section United Kingdom 9 Section United Kingdom (UK) will be divided into eleven Regions, as follows: 9.1 1 (Scotland) Region 2 (Northern Ireland) Region 3 (North of England including the Isle of Man) Region 4 (Wales) Region 5 (Midlands) Region 6 (Central and West London) Region 7 (South & Southwest including the Channel Islands) Region 8 (East Anglia) Region 9 (Northern Home Counties and North & Northwest London) Region 10 (Essex and East London) Region 11 (Southern Home Counties and South London) Region 9.2 The composition of the regions are as shown in the Rules. Article V - Membership 10 Membership of Section UK of the Association shall, subject to the approval of the National Council, be open to all serving and retired members of any civil Police Service, the interpretation of which is given in the Rules of Section UK. 11 There shall be the following categories of Membership: 11.1 Ordinary Membership Page 5 of 25 Not protectively marked © IPA Section UK 19th June 2010 Foreign Associate Membership Extraordinary Membership Life Membership Honorary Life Membership 11.2 The definition and conditions of membership are as shown in the Rules. 12 All members shall acknowledge loyalty to the Crown and the lawful government of the country. Article VI – Control 13 Elections: There shall be elected a President, a Secretary-General, a National Treasurer and three Vice-Presidents who shall be the Officers of the British Section and known as the National Executive Committee. The President, Secretary-General, National Treasurer and three Vice-Presidents will upon election serve for a term of three years and upon expiration of the term may offer themselves for re-election. A person may only serve for a maximum of two terms in any post. This took effect from the 1st January 2009. Voting shall be by ballot and in the event of more than one nomination for a post the ballot shall be in secret. 14 Candidates offering themselves for election to the National Executive Committee shall notify the Secretary-General at least 28 days prior to the meeting of the National Council and submit a CV for circulation with the agenda. After the elapsing of the 28-day limit, no nominations shall be admitted. In the event there is no candidate for an office at the time of the elections, nominations for such office may be submitted at the meeting of the National Council. Candidates may not be nominated or elected without their consent. 15 The control of Section UK shall be vested in the National Council. 16 The composition of the National Council shall be shown in the Rules and each Region shall be represented thereon. 17 The National Executive Committee of Section UK shall have power to act on behalf of the Section in any matter, which in their opinion requires immediate attention. Any such matter must be brought to the attention of the next meeting of the National Council. Page 6 of 25 Not protectively marked © IPA Section UK 19th June 2010 18 The National Council of Section UK of the Association will acknowledge the authority of the International Executive Council, upon which it is represented, and will undertake to carry into effect the policy and directives of the International Executive Council as far as practicable, subject to the laws, regulations and service orders governing members of Section UK, and subject to the provisions of the Rules. 19 Meetings of the National Council shall be held as and when required, but at least once a year. Items for the agenda shall reach the Secretary- General at least 28 days prior to each meeting. All motions must be justified and any financial implications explained. 20 At the meetings of the National Council, all members of Section UK may attend and speak, but only members of the Council with voting rights, as defined in the Rules, may vote. 21 For the purpose of a meeting of the National Council, a quorum is deemed to be twelve members of the National Council and shall include any three members of the National Executive Committee. Article VII - Finance 22 An income & expenditure account and a balance sheet shall be prepared showing the financial position of the Association as at 31st December each year and be presented to the National Council by the National Treasurer. 23 The accounts shall be examined annually by a Chartered Accountant or a firm of Chartered Accountants and any members shall be entitled to receive, upon application, a certified copy of the Income & Expenditure account and the Balance Sheet.