This is the letter in full I received from the ACA Chairman, Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith:
Dear Member,
Anglers’ Conservation Association
You may well have heard, through the media or other avenues that the Association has suspended its Executive Director Jane James and its Press and Publicity Officer, Bob James, both on full pay. We are writing to set out the Board’s position and actions taken with this difficult issue.
Although suspension should never be interpreted as anything other than a means of seeking answers and carrying out essential checks, in this case, a number of serious complaints were made against the two officers and the Board has a duty on behalf of its members to investigate such complaints, above all to ensure the proper running of the Association but also to give those charged the opportunity to clarify matters. Investigations are nearing completion and, due to the nature of the allegations, it has been found necessary to speak formally to them both so that they have a proper chance to put their side of the case and answer the Board’s questions.
You will appreciate that employment law requires a particular route to be followed and at all stages the Association has been guided by proper external legal advice.
Notwithstanding this internal investigation and the suspension of Bob and Jane, the office is running smoothly. The Association’s in-house legal unit, staffed by full-time environmental and litigation solicitors and support staff, continues to pursue a large number of legal cases against a range of polluters, against water companies for over-abstraction of rivers and against developers for damaging fisheries. This is after all why the Association is so highly regarded both within and outside the angling world.
The Association also continues to provide essential advice for angling clubs and fishery owners across the country. The Association’s membership unit continues unaffected to answer membership queries effectively and welcomes many new members each day.
I, personally, and the Board would like to thank you warmly for your continued support. We will keep you updated on matters through our website – www.a-c-a.org.
Yours sincerely
Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith
Chairman
