News

11 Sep 2012

Association of Professional Political Consultants

APPC reinforces independence of its complaints procedures

The Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) today formalised the appointment of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) to carry out its Complaints & Disciplinary Procedures. The Procedures are available on www.appc.org.uk.

The Procedures allow anyone to lodge a complaint that a member firm of APPC has breached the APPC Code of Conduct, which regulates a member firm’s dealings with its clients and with institutions of UK Government.

The Procedures – including an independent Professional Practices Panel - have been in place since the formation of APPC in 1994.  They were reviewed and updated in 2009, when APPC appointed Independent Adjudicators to resolve complaints without any input from the members of the APPC or its Management Committee.   Only one complaint has been lodged since then, which was examined by an Independent Adjudicator and found not to be in breach of the Code of Conduct.

To further reinforce the independence of the Procedures, the APPC has now appointed CEDR to carry out the complaints procedures on its behalf.  If required, APPC will be able to provide input on the sector through its appointed Expert Advisers who have knowledge of the sector but are not within it.

APPC Chair, Michael Burrell, said that the appointment of CEDR reinforced the independence of the Procedures so that both complainants and APPC’s own members could be assured of a fair process.  The APPC Management Committee retains the right to lodge its own complaint in the event of it becoming aware of a possible breach of the Code of Conduct.

Dr Karl Mackie CBE, Chief Executive of CEDR said, ‘As Europe’s leading independent dispute resolution service, we have a commitment to facilitate resolutions and negotiations in complex conflict and dialogue.  Our commitment to impartial dispute resolution is demonstrated by this new partnership with APPC, working to provide a fair, effective and efficient service for both complainants and APPC’s own members.’

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