CHARITY workers are being warned about the threat to their own organisations posed by fraudsters and conmen.

Charity regulator the Charity Commission has said that despite the good work that many charities do, they can still become targets for unscrupulous thieves.

Now Hampshire charity workers are being invited to a meeting which will explain how to fight back.

Stephen Grenfell, head of investigations at the Charity Commission, will address a meeting of Hampshire charity chairmen at a meeting entitled "Charities - a risky business" on Wednesday.

He will explain how the commission is under growing pressure to expose fraud, malpractice and legal irregularities in charities.

Mr Grenfell said: "I will point out all the sorts of problems that we come across so that the people in the audience can avoid meeting me professionally!"

He said he will use case studies to warn charities about how to stop scams, and how to avoid falling foul of commission rules.

He said: "I will warn people of how some fundraising organisations that approach charities and offer to raise money for them do not do the job they should.

"I will also talk about some chief executives we have come across who manipulated the charity for their own financial ends."

Under the Charity Commission guidelines the responsibility for control of a charity, no matter how small, rests with its trustee body.

The trustees must examine risks such as potential conflict of interest, the possibility of fraud, financial risks and breach of trust law.

The Commission has promised very firm action against any charities which may damage public confidence.

Mr Grenfell will speak at the Hampshire Chairs' Forum at Community Action Hampshire's headquarters in Beaconsfield House, Andover Road Winchester on Wednesday, 16 October at 5.30pm. Call 01962 854971 for details.