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Disciplinary Procedure
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CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOUR The object of our league is to facilitate the enjoyment of competition amongst friends. As a visiting side we will have been invited into someone's house and we should be expected to behave courteously with due consideration of our hosts. Similarly, as hosts we should treat the visiting side as guests in our house. The EBU are promoting a guide to courteous behaviour, which they see as an exceptionally important part of the enjoyment of the game of bridge. The EBU are promoting this as Best Behaviour at Bridge or the: BB@B code
RUGBY AND DISTRICT BRIDGE LEAGUE: DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE In this document the following applies: a) The masculine encompasses the feminine. b) The singular ‘member’ encompasses the plural ‘members’. 1. The intention of this procedure is to follow the principles of natural justice so that any accused member has a fair opportunity of answering the allegations against him and is kept properly informed at every stage. 2. A written complaint, when received, must be passed to the Chairman of the Conduct Committee who, depending on the seriousness of the allegations made, must decide whether to a) request comments from each member complained of immediately, and/or b) seek the views of Conduct Committee members on how to proceed. 3. When comments are to be sought immediately, a copy of the complaint must be sent to each: a) member concerned. However, should the complaint contain possibly defamatory comments not directly related to the complaint, only an extract of the relevant part of the complaint should be sent detailing the specific allegations b) Committee member. 4. When a decision is taken that, at first sight, there appears to be a case to answer and a need for a formal enquiry, further statements must be obtained as appropriate e.g. those from the Tournament Director and witnesses named in the complaint. Each member concerned must then be informed in writing, by recorded delivery if necessary, that a formal enquiry is to be held. The information must incorporate a) summary of allegations made b) names of persons making the allegations c) names of persons who have agreed to be called as witnesses d) a copy of all evidence to be considered at the enquiry e) a copy of any relevant parts of the current Constitution and of this procedure. 5. Each complainant and each person complained of must be made aware of his right to be represented and to call witnesses at his own expense. A selection of dates and times must be offered to all parties. The Committee should seek to accommodate each complainant and each person complained of if he indicates his wish to attend. If reasonable efforts are unsuccessful in finding an agreed date and time, the Conduct Committee should offer a final date, time and venue and proceed, if necessary, without the presence of any person concerned. The date, time and venue must be confirmed in writing, by recorded delivery if necessary, to all parties. 6. For the purposes of the enquiry, any Committee member who is in any way personally involved in the allegations must disqualify himself. Any Committee member may disqualify himself for personal reasons and should do so if he has discussed the subject with any of the parties or has received information that is not, or will not become, generally available to the Committee. 7. At the hearing each member concerned and his representative must be allowed to be present throughout and must be offered the opportunity to question any witnesses. 8. The Committee must deliberate in private. Thereafter each member concerned must be informed in writing, by recorded delivery if necessary, of the Committee’s a) findings and decisions b) decision on publication of its findings and decisions. Each member complained of must be informed of his subsequent right of appeal to the League Committee, excluding any members of the Conduct Committee, within 21 days of despatch of the letter and of that Committee’s power to increase or decrease the penalty imposed. Each E.B.U. member complained of must be informed of his subsequent right of appeal within 21 days of despatch of a similar letter from the Appeal Committee to the County Conduct committee and of that Committee’s power to increase or decrease the penalty imposed. 9. The Conduct Committee shall have powers to decide as it may think fit to select and give effect to one or more of the following provisions in relation thereto that the member shall be a) reprimanded orally b) reprimanded in writing c) barred from all, or such as it shall specify, of the events run by Rugby and District Bridge League for such period as it shall determine. 10. If a complaint against an E.B.U. member is upheld by the Appeals Committee, the findings of the Committee must be reported to the County Conduct Committee specifying as applicable:- a) the date of the enquiry. b) the name, address and E.B.U. number of each member complained of. c) the allegation proved. d) any penalty imposed. e) that the member has been advised of his right of appeal to the County Conduct Committee.
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© 2006-08 Peter Augustus Results and Tables compiled by Christine Cooper |