RTPI members are expected to abide by the highest standards of professional and ethical behaviour in accordance with the RTPI Code of Professional Conduct. To safeguard the profession, as well as clients, employers and the wider public who use RTPI members' services, the Institute requires members of certain classes to declare if they hold a criminal record.
Who is required to declare?
As of January 2020, only those applying to join, upgrade or reinstate to the following membership classes will be required to declare criminal conviction information:
- Chartered Members (MRTPI)
- Chartered Fellows (FRTPI)
- Legal Members (LMRTPI)
- Legal Associates (LARTPI)
- Associates (AssocRTPI)
- Honorary Members (HonMRTPI)
This will be rolled out to existing members of these classes in due course.
RTPI policy for members with criminal records
Our approach
The RTPI undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any person on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. The RTPI will only ask an individual member or prospective member to provide details of convictions and cautions that the RTPI are legally entitled to know about. The RTPI can only ask an individual about convictions and cautions that are unspent.
The RTPI is committed to the fair treatment of its members and potential members, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership or offending background.
A person's criminal record will not necessarily debar that person from membership. Eligible individuals will not be refused membership if offences do not affect their ability to carry out their duties in compliance with the RTPI Code of Professional Conduct, and do not place them at or make them a risk, during the course of their professional activity as a member.
The process
RTPI officers will triage all cases and refer them to the Criminal Conviction Assessment Panel, a sub-committee of the Membership and Ethics Committee, for assessment if required. In making a determination, the Panel will consider the following:
- Whether the conviction is relevant to the individual's membership and potentially affects their future compliance with the RTPI Code of Professional Conduct.
- The seriousness of any offence revealed and the length of custodial sentence imposed.
- The age of the individual at the time of the offence(s).
- The length of time since the offence(s) occurred.
- Whether the individual has a pattern of offending behaviour.
- The circumstances surrounding the offence(s) and the explanation(s) offered by the person concerned.
- Whether the individual's circumstances have changed since the offending behaviour.
Individuals are encouraged to provide information on each of the points above, so that a full assessment of the unspent conviction(s) can take place. If an individual fails to declare relevant information, or provides inaccurate or misleading information, regarding their criminal record the Institute has the right to refuse them membership.
Notification via third party
If the RTPI is notified of an individual's criminal conviction by a third party, either via a complaint or through general correspondence, the individual will be contacted for a response.
Resources
- RTPI Procedure for Assessment of Criminal Records
- RTPI Criminal Record Declaration Form (for membership applicants)
Find out more
Email [email protected] for further information.