ARB scores a double success in the Courts

ARB scores a double success in the Courts (28/02/2006)

On 22 February 2006 at Stratford Magistrates’ Court in London, Stratford-based Coomsco Ltd and Ms Wickramasinghe, an associate partner of the firm, were found guilty of breaching Section 20 of the Architects Act by illegally using the title “architect”. Both Coomsco and Ms Wickramasinghe pleaded guilty to the offence, and the magistrates imposed fines of £3,000 and £1,500 respectively. The magistrates further ordered that they pay £1,230 in costs.

Commenting at the conclusion of the case, ARB’s Regulation Department said that the Board’s firm policy to eliminate title abuse had once again proved to be effective. Prior to the Board’s involvement in this case, there were clearly some very blatant breaches of the Act being perpetrated, and the prosecution was brought in the public interest to prevent consumers being misled by the defendants falsely claiming to be architects.

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Notes for Editors

ARB is the statutory body established by Parliament under the Architects Act 1997 to regulate the UK architects’ profession in the public interest. The Act requires ARB (inter alia) to:

• Maintain the Register of Architects (Section 3)

• Prescribe qualifications for entry to the Register of Architects (Section 4)

• Deal with competence to practise (Section 9)

• Issue a Code which lays down standards of professional conduct and practice (Section 13)

• Regulate use of the title “architect” and prosecute those who use it fraudulently (Section 20)

ARB has a Board of 15 members, seven of whom are architects elected by the profession. The remaining eight are members of the public appointed by the Privy Council to represent the interests of consumers and users of architectural services.

Moneys raised by fines are paid direct to HM Treasury, not to ARB.

For further details of ARB’s prosecution policy, please contact the Regulation Department at RegulationDepartment@arb.org.uk