The Charity Commission has today published the results of 30 different investigations that it launched in 2004 after the Big Lottery Fund raised concerns about various grant applications.

The report reveals that a number of individuals used the charities, most of which purported to support African causes, to fraudulently apply for grants.  An accompanying police inquiry found that the activity amounted to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

BIG first raised its concerns with the Commission in September 2004 and also got in touch with the police.  Although the regulator launched its inquiries shortly after, it put these on hold from June 2006 until September 2010 while the police conducted its own investigations.

The Commisson said that evidence of mismanagement, including financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest, was uncovered at 12 of the charities investigated. 

As a result of the twin investigations, nine people from ten different charities were convicted of crimes of theft and fraud and a further three trustees were removed from post.  All these were disqualified from holding trustee positions in the future.  

Some of the charities were given regulatory advice and allowed to continue operating. Those that ceased operating as a result of the investigations were removed from the register.