The Warnings Policy

[AHC]

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The Warnings policy

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The Warnings policy is the tool used by the forum team to respond appropriately to blatant disregard for the Standards and Rules and maintain order on the forum.

The Warnings policy will follow a similar line to that of the National Demerit Point System – something we should all be familiar with. A basic, but over-riding principle of the National Demerit Point System is “Ignorance of the law (rules) is no excuse”. We have also adopted this principle.

1. Ignorance of the standards and rules is no excuse.
   
2. The Warning system is meant to be a visible deterrent, therefore your current warning status will be visible to all.
   
3. Members of the forum team issue warnings.
   
4. No individual team member may issue a warning without first consulting another member of the forum team.
   
   1. To issue a warning, two forum team members must agree that the warning is warranted. This applies even for Zero Tolerance offences.
      
   2. Therefore, if you receive a warning you will know it is a decision taken by at least two (but possibly more) team members.
5. Each warning received will incur 3 warning points.
   
6. Each member has a threshold total of 10 warning points, which will display as 100%.
   
7. If you reach or exceed the warning points threshold further disciplinary action will apply. (See below)
   
8. Warning points have an expiry period of 12 months (unlike the national system which is 3 yrs). Everyone will have the opportunity to redeem themselves.
   
9. Assuming no prior warning points have expired, your 4th warning results in a 12 point total, which exceeds the threshold. This will automatically initiate a Ban from the forum for a period of 30 days.
   
10. During a Ban you are permitted to access the forum but not to participate by any means (nor will you be able to as a banned member). This includes…
    
    1. Joining as a new member or posting under another alias. (ZT)
       
    2. Posting a public message via another member. (ZT)
11. When the Ban has been served your warning points are reset to Zero, however…
    
    1. should you incur any additional warnings either during a Ban or within a 12 month period following the Ban you will incur “Double Demerit Points” which means a warning will incur 6 points (not the usual 3) and the 2nd warning will cross the threshold bringing with it either a 3 month ban or permanent ban at the discretion of the Forum team.
12. As the decision to issue a warning is made after consultation between at least two forum team members, there is no appeals process nor does the complaints process apply.
    
13. The decision to issue a warning is final and no further discussion will be entered into.
    
14. Temporary and permanent bans are easily avoided. The decision to risk a ban is your own.

Under what circumstances will you receive a warning?

1. All Zero Tolerance (ZT) offences result in a warning.
   
   1. Two members of the forum team must agree that the offence is clearly an intentional ZT item.
      
   2. Administrators have no discretion in such cases. Where it is clear a ZT offence has been committed, a warning WILL be issued.
      
   3. Please understand that if you choose to risk a warning by committing a ZT offence, an Administrator has no choice but to issue the warning.
2. Repeated minor offences, including attitudes and behaviours that disrupt the forum and/or ongoing blatant disregard for the forum S&R to the extent that two or more members of the forum team regard your behaviour as intolerable.
   
3. Where three (3) or more complaints lodged against you by other members (within a period of 3 months) are upheld.
   
   1. In such cases, at least two members of the forum team must agree that a warning is appropriate.

By electing to become a member of this forum or by continuing to participate on this forum you agree
to be bound by all of the Standards and Rules as well as our disciplinary policies.

Failure to comply with the Standards and Rules may result in the termination of your account,
account suspension, or permanent ban of access to these forums.