RICS cracks down on members’ misdemeanours

The RICS made nearly £140,000 last year from its members in disciplinary hearing fines and costs relating to offenses including plagiarism, poor accounts, fraud, drink driving, sexual harassment and even growing cannabis.

The body brought 32 cases in 2010, fined members £24,000 and imposed costs of £113,842.

Eleven members were expelled over the course of the year, largely for failing to comply with RICS regulations, financial mismanagement and not having correct insurance.

But seven cases punished misdemeanours already taken up in the courts or employment tribunals, leading some members to question the RICS’ right to intervene in such cases.

A hearing in August 2010 cautioned a member, Michael Rutter, after he was given 60 hours’ community service for cultivation of cannabis and non-compliance with shot gun and firearms certificates. He also had to pay £1,750 in hearing costs.

A fellow of the RICS was fined £500, plus more than £3,000 in costs, after a conviction for drink driving.

Two members were found guilty of plagiarism on assessments of professional competence, with one having to pay more than £5,500 in costs after unsuccessfully appealing against expulsion.

Christopher Grinter was expelled in July 2009 and told to pay £3,060 in costs after being sentenced to five years in prison for grooming girls and amassing indecent images and videos.

Diane Telford, director of global regulatory operations at the RICS, said that the organisation takes disciplinary action over any conviction carrying a custodial sentence. She said costs have to cover solicitors, panel attendance fees and transport.

Richard Steer, chairman of Gleeds Worldwide, questioned whether some of the disciplinary action was appropriate.

He said: “As a percentage of the institution’s £50m income it is not a great deal of money. The fact that drink driving is also included is particularly intriguing.”