Another court success for ARB

Another court success for ARB (06/11/2006)

On 1 November 2006, Philip Griffiths of St Johns Close, Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, was found guilty by Aberdare Magistrates of breaching Section 20 of the 1997 Architects Act. He was fined £1,500, and in addition, ordered to pay £1,250 costs.

Mr Griffiths, who was present at the hearing, entered a guilty plea but nonetheless put forward a full mitigation in his defence. However, in what was a clear breach of the law, the Magistrates had no hesitation in delivering a guilty verdict.

Speaking after the case, a spokesman from ARB’s Regulation Department said:

“Mr Griffiths was removed from the Register of Architects in 2001 for failing to pay his annual retention fee. He has not been registered since. Despite being informed that it was unlawful to use the title “architect” while not registered with ARB, Mr Phillips continued to describe himself thus.

This was a clear case of someone using the title when they had no right to do so. Section 20 of the Architects Act is unequivocal:

“A person shall not practise or carry on business under any name, style or title containing the word “architect” unless he is a person registered under this Act.”

ARB is determined to uphold the law by preventing unregistered people from using the title, in the interests of both the public and the profession itself."

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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 unlawfully (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.