The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a shocking event, which has upturned the lives of many millions of people in Ukraine, and challenges the sense of peace and security in which many Europeans have lived for two generations. It seems probable that the repercussions will impact widely across society, including for many charities registered with us, responding to these events as they unfold.

The British public has already responded with immense generosity, donating millions of pounds to support those affected by the war. Together with the Fundraising Regulator, we are reminding the public that giving to established registered charities with experience of delivering humanitarian aid in challenging environments is often the most efficient and helpful way to support those in need. Many charities have launched emergency fundraising appeals, and we are reminding trustees of our guidance on running effective and impactful appeals, and on holding, moving and receiving funds safely.

Many charities operate in Russia, and may come under increasing pressure as a result of the implications of sanctions, difficulties in transferring funds and because of the operating environment for civil society in that country. To keep up to date with the latest financial sanctions, charities can sign up to e-alerts from HM Treasury and find guidance from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). We urge trustees to consider our guidance on working in high-risk areas, and to ensure that they are following Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice, and keeping staff, volunteers and funds safe.

All charities should also know their donors, and consider whether or not to accept donations, including where there may be a reputational implication for them in doing so. Our guidance is here, and we encourage all charities to read this this in light of the current international context. We also have general guidance on managing risks when working internationally.

There will be other implications for charities, both short and long term, that we cannot yet predict. The Commission will remain alive to the issues and risks facing charities, and we encourage charities to do likewise. We will promote or update our guidance as needed. We want to help support charities, which play such a vital role in our society, to get it right and make the biggest impact possible.

We encourage charities to visit our GOV.UK pages for any updates to our guidance, and to get in touch with our contact centre if they have any specific questions or concerns.

Today the Home Secretary Priti Patel has appointed Mick Creedon, Former Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, to undertake the independent review which was a promise set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (2021).

Mr Creedon has over 37 years’ experience in policing, counter-terrorism and security, and will be taking up the post imminently.

The review will consider the consistency of the management of registered sex offenders across England and Wales, and whether the current capabilities to manage them are fit for purpose. It will specifically look at how consistently the police use their capabilities to manage the risk posed by registered sex offenders and whether the regime protecting the public from them could be strengthened further.

The review, which is independent of government, will consider evidence in relation to factors including (but not limited to):

• police resourcing
• consistency of offender management
• information-sharing
• management tools and orders
• risk assessment, management, and prioritisation
• training

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

“The UK has some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and we are committed to ensuring that the system is as robust as it can be.

“Mick brings a wealth of policing and criminal justice expertise to this role and I am delighted he has agreed to chair the review.”

On taking on this role as the independent reviewer, Mick Creedon said:

“I’m really pleased to be offered the opportunity to lead this review on behalf of the Home Secretary. The question of how the police best manage offenders released from custody but rightly subject to restrictions is a complicated one. The public deserve protection, and at the same time the demands on the police service continue to grow. I intend to gather as many views as possible, to work with those leading and involved in this work, and will seek to provide a fully independent review and realistic proposals to ensure the longstanding MAPPA arrangements provide the best protection for the public, and the effective monitoring and management of offenders living in the community.”

The review will be undertaken in line with the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy (2021) which aims to prevent, tackle and respond to all forms of child sexual abuse, while also building on the findings of the government’s end-to-end review into the criminal justice response to rape (2021). It will commence imminently and will aim to report back to the Home Secretary, Safeguarding Minister and Crime and Policing Minister by the end of this year.

Today, Syri Ltd, a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Ruislip, Hillingdon, London has been fined £51,000 and ordered to pay costs of £104,898 by Aylesbury Crown Court. Following an investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regularly Agency (MHRA) and a prosecution brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the company was convicted of supplying a medicinal product which was not of the nature or quality specified in a prescription. The investigation was prompted by a child suffering multiple seizures and their admission to hospital.  

The child was prescribed magnesium glycerophosphate to help prevent seizures. However, the medicine made by the company contained just 12% of the strength specified in the prescription, which resulted in it failing to work effectively. 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was alerted to the issue following a report from Milton Keynes University Hospital. MHRA inspectors visited the site and found the methods used to manufacture the medicine and the checks in place to ensure appropriate standards were not met at the time the medicine was supplied. This resulted in the medicine being manufactured with insufficient levels of the active ingredient, making it ineffective and causing the child to become seriously ill.   

The medicine was made to a specific prescription (known as a special) for the child. The company has improved their quality assurance procedures to prevent a recurrence. 

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said:  

“Pharmaceutical companies such as Syri Ltd have a legal obligation to ensure they produce and supply medicines that work and are manufactured to the required standards.  The patient has recovered, but the consequences could have been much more serious if it hadn’t been for the swift action of hospital staff. 

“Patient safety is our top priority. The Agency will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action when serious failings that put patients at risk are identified.”

Laura Walters, Special Crown Prosecutor of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 

“Syri Limited, as with all pharmaceutical providers, have a vital responsibility to produce medicines accurately and safely, in the form specified in a prescription. Fortunately, the mistake they made was not fatal in this case. This was not an isolated mistake although our prosecution was only concerned with this one serious incident.

“These types of prosecutions are thankfully rare, but this conviction and sentence should serve as a reminder for all pharmaceutical companies of the need for absolute care in providing essential medications to the public.”   

Anyone who suspects that they, or a member of their family, may have experienced a side effect from a medicine can report it to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, which collects and monitors information on suspected safety concerns involving healthcare products.

Notes to Editor 

• The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK. All work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks. 
• The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.