16. Receiving gifts or hospitality

16.1. It is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 for members of staff to accept corruptly any gift or consideration as an inducement or reward for doing, or refraining from doing, anything in an official capacity or showing favour or disfavour to any person in an official capacity. The guiding principles to be followed by all members of staff must be:

• The conduct of individuals should not create suspicion of any conflict between their official duty and their private interest;
• The action of individuals acting in an official capacity should not give the impression (to any member of the public, to any organisation with whom they deal or to their colleagues) that they have been (or may have been) influenced by a benefit to show favour or disfavour to any person or organisation.

16.2. Thus, members of staff should not accept any gifts, rewards or hospitality (or have them given to members of their families) from any organisation or individual with whom they have contact in the course of their work that would cause them to reach a position whereby they might be, or might be deemed by others to have been, influenced in making a business decision as a consequence of accepting such hospitality. The frequency and scale of hospitality accepted should not be significantly greater than the University would be likely to provide in return.

16.3. When it is not easy to decide between what is and what is not acceptable in terms of gifts or hospitality, the offer should be declined or advice sought from the Director of Finance.

16.4. For the protection of those involved, College Deans and Directors of Services must maintain a register of gifts received where the value is in excess of £50, and of hospitality received where the value is in excess of £100. These limits apply both to single gifts and to the cumulative total of three gifts or more received within a rolling period of 12 months from the same source.

16.5. Members of staff in receipt of such gifts or hospitality are obliged to notify the College Dean or Director of Service promptly in writing. Positive confirmation of the maintenance of such registers is required as part of year end procedures and registers should be made available to Finance Services on request.