At the governing body of British horse racing, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) the former policeman Paul Scotney is to leave his full-time role as Director of Integrity Services, Compliance and Licensing.
According to the authority, the move takes place against the backdrop of an ongoing restructure of the BHA led by Chief Executive Paul Bittar, who has spent much of his opening year in office reviewing the operations and services of the organisation. Paul Scotney will step aside from his full-time role with effect from December 14, but as part of a transition plan will remain a part of the BHA’s ability to protect the sport from corruption, providing advice on investigations and strategy.
Paul Scotney joined the BHA in late 2003. Prior to his appointment he was a police officer for 27 years holding a variety of senior management positions within the Metropolitan Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary. Latterly as a Detective Chief Superintendent, Paul was in charge of a number of investigations into serious crime including murder, drug trafficking and money laundering specialising in intelligence development, informant handling, surveillance and covert operations. During his time with BHA, Paul has provided advice and guidance to a number of other sports including tennis and football on how to tackle betting related corruption in their sports. He has also spoken extensively on the subject including two appearances at the European Parliament.
Pictured is the BHA Independent Regulatory Director Ben Gunn – a former Metropolitan Police man who retired in 2002 as Cambridgeshire Chief Constable. The men were brought into the authority as a result – as in other sports – of the threats to integrity caused by among other things online gambling and the risk of insiders making use of their information to bet on animals to win – or lose, and to manipulate races.
Adam Brickell, who is the BHA’s Head of Legal and Compliance, will be promoted and appointed Director of Legal, Integrity and Risk. Adam’s appointment will be supported by other structural changes in the business, to be announced.
BHA Chief Executive, Paul Bittar, said the decision for Paul Scotney to leave his full-time role was agreed mutually.
Bittar said: “It is good news that in ensuring our commitment to integrity standards we will be able to call upon Paul’s experience and expertise when needed. At the same time we can support Paul in branching out to work in other sports and sectors, which is something we recognise he is keen to do after nearly 10 years working exclusively in horseracing. Paul has put in place strong systems and built an excellent team. This is reflected in the fact we’ve got an internal candidate in Adam to promote and Paul leaves his full-time role with British Racing far better equipped to deal with threats to the sport’s integrity than it was on his arrival in 2003. A measure of the progress made under Paul was illustrated when an independent Review carried out by Dame Elizabeth Neville in 2008 concluded that the BHA Integrity department is ‘a model for the effective investigation of corruption in sport’.
“One of my primary objectives has been to conduct a review of all aspects of the business to identify the most effective and efficient structure for the BHA given our broad role in the industry. However, this should be seen as a constant evolution of the business and the changes announced today are part of that – something Paul has contributed constructively to.”
Paul Scotney said: “I am sad to be leaving my full-time role but also excited at the prospect of working for clients outside of racing, while also retaining my links to the BHA. I am certainly proud of the progress that has been made during my time in racing.
“The links between racing and betting are more deeply ingrained than in other sports so it is only fitting that racing should lead the way in understanding better the threats posed as a result of sports betting. As an all-round sports fan, I am looking forward to putting that experience to wider use.
“I am delighted for Adam Brickell who deserves the opportunity to take on the running of the department. I enjoy working with him and look forward to continuing to assist where I can best contribute and where it best fits the needs of the business.”
Adam Brickell, 32, qualified as a solicitor at DLA Piper in their sports group. He joined BHA on a client secondment in 2009 before becoming a permanent member of staff in January 2010 as Legal Affairs Manager and Company Secretary. He was subsequently promoted to Head of Legal and Compliance, with responsibility for the BHA’s entire legal function, including working closely with Paul Scotney on the development and presentation of cases put before the Disciplinary Panel.
And Adam Brickell said: “I am looking forward to working with racing’s stakeholders and participants to ensure the high standards of integrity within British Racing are maintained and improved. It is my priority to ensure that the BHA provides a contemporary, efficient, and customer-focused service to the industry and, while significant progress has been made, there is never any room for complacency in relation to threats to the integrity of sport.”
