This Petition is for a CRITICAL REVIEW of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

What you are about to read will probably shock you - unless you've experienced the Charity Commission's failings yourself. 

The Charity Commission - a government quango - funded by the people, in position to serve the people, does not operate as the people think.

All of the following criticisms are supported by evidence from different sources, including the Charity Commission itself.

FAILINGS
The Charity Commission, the official regulator of charities:

1. nurtures a culture of obstruction, deceit and lying

2. distorts facts and launders false evidence

3. breaches its own procedures and guidelines

4. withholds available guidance for trustees

5. retaliates against whistle-blowers briefing against it 

6. fails to investigate fully, if at all, evidence presented to it

7. dismisses complaints against it, applying a 3 month time limit

8. refuses to meet holders of evidence and information

9. defames innocent individuals without cause

10. places point scoring above professionalism and truth

11. uses dismissive statements to disguise truth and reality

12. is conflicted in its dual role to regulate and provide advice 

13. lacks a professional approach to investigation

14. believes investigations can be conducted from a desk 

15. lacks accountability, professional conduct and leadership

16. places far too high a priority upon its own public image

17. too often fails to act soon enough - or at all

18. has a habit of blaming its failings on a lack of funding

19. fails to apply an effective strategy in its role as regulator

20. is steered by stories in the media 

21. is steered by unfounded and untested allegations

22. damages charities' ability to serve their beneficiaries

23. unfairly damages people's lives with impunity

24. when criticised, retaliates by discrediting individuals

25. constantly undermines trust and confidence in charities  

26. is inconsistent in the proportionality of its actions

27. applies bullying, threatening and intimidating tactics

28. damages reputations without any evidence of wrongdoing

In summary, the Charity Commission headed by CEO Helen Stephenson
is INeffective, INefficient, INcompetent and wholly INept. 
It is demonstrably NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE

Different charity stories provide irrefutable testament to the above.
The effects of the Commission's actions and non-actions has been to materially endanger the financial sustainability of charities and in some cases destroy them totally.  The effects for the charity beneficiaries are both extreme and inexcusable - negatively affecting lives of those needing to benefit from the charities' work.  Those lives are measured in tens of thousands - both inside and outside the UK.

This is due solely to what is clearly the Charity Commission's gross incompetence, misconduct and mismanagement.

WHISTLE-BLOWING
Recently, a whistle-blowing website was deactivated by the Charity Commission by placing pressure on the hosting company.  This action was taken by the Charity Commission to purposely prevent people learning the truth.  That whistle-blowing website has now been successfully reinstated, by the same host, to share the truth about the Charity Commission.

Ironically, the Charity Commission prides itself on recently taking new measures to both encourage and make easier the practice of whistle-blowing about charities and their trustees.  What the Charity Commission does not do is accept, without retaliation or penalty, whistle-blowing about its own errant practices.  

OBJECTIVE
This Petition is a call for a root and branch critical review of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, headed by CEO Helen Stephenson.

We call to have included on the agenda of that critical review:
1. a full assessment of its shortcomings 
2. identification of those guilty of wrongdoing and misconduct
3. review of how it is funded, what should be funded - and how 

Further,
4. consideration for the formation of a separate advisory body to champion, help and support charities for the benefit of the sector
5. consideration for restricting the Charity Commission's concentration to registration and regulation only
6. consideration for a suitable body to regulate the Charity Commission

7. initiate the changes that are needed to transform the Charity Commission into a regulator that the public needs and deserves

IN CONCLUSION
The regulator of charities, tasked and trusted to ensure compliance with legislation, needs to operate and conduct itself transparently, legally, professionally and ethically. 

By signing this petition you will be taking a step towards achieving this.
If you have your own experience of the Charity Commission, that you would like to share, please do!

Below are links to some historical sources of evidence which further indicate the need for this petition.  These links will be updated and added to.

The Charity Commission seems unwilling or unable to recognise that it needs the confidence and respect of the sector it regulates - but this is ebbing away

Commission's poor handling of a case amounted to 'maladministration' Ombudsman

MP questions how regulator handled investigation

"We have little confidence in the Commission’s ability to put right its problems and failings."
Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP - Chair, Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts

When it comes to high profile cases – often the most serious – the Commission has shown that it can act quickly ... but this does not appear to be the norm

"...as long ago as 2013 the National Audit Office found that the Charity Commission: was reactive rather than proactive...