ARB maintains pressure on abusers of the title "architect"

ARB maintains pressure on abusers of the title "architect" (10/03/2006)

On 2 March 2006 at West London Magistrates’ Court, Mr Safa Alattar of London W12 was found guilty of breaching Section 20 of the Architects Act by unlawfully using the title “architect”.

Mr Alattar had submitted drawings and a planning application to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and had described himself as an “architect” on all the documents. Mr Alattar is not, and never has been registered with ARB.

Having considered the available evidence, the Magistrates imposed a fine of £750 on Mr Alattar, and further ordered him to pay costs of £949.84.

Commenting on the outcome, ARB’s Regulation Department said that the prosecution had been brought in the public interest, to protect consumers from fraudulent individuals who wilfully misled consumers into believing that they were employing a fully qualified, fully trained and legally-registered architect. They added that it was also in the profession’s interest to ensure that consumer confidence in architects is maintained.

----Ends-----

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