The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) recently secured a conviction of two offences contrary to Article 39(1)(a) and (b) of the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001. The person concerned described themselves as a Chiropodist and advertised chiropody / podiatry services even though they were not registered with the HCPC.
In this case, the judge imposed a fine of £1100 and ordered the defendant to pay the HCPC’s costs.
John Barwick, HCPC’s Acting Director of Fitness to Practise said:
‘It is a criminal offence for anyone to claim they are on the HCPC Register when they are not, or use a designated title to which they are not entitled. HCPC works to ensure compliance with the law so that the public is not misled into thinking a person is a registered professional when they are not.
‘In most cases, this is achieved when the potential offence is brought to the attention of the individual concerned; and we ensure they take immediate steps to stop using the designated title. However, as this case demonstrates if people do not respond to us and continue to commit the offence we will seek to prosecute them which could lead to a criminal record and fine.’
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