College highlights the penalties for cheating

In a letter to all of its assessors, seen by Optician, the College of Optometrists has asked that they explain the consequences of cheating to their students by highlighting the recent cases of Umar Abbas (News, Optician January 23) and Nicholas Skillicorn (see below).

After being found guilty of misconduct, Abbas was fined £3,000, while Skillicorn was fined £1,000 and suspended for three months.

Jo Mullin, the College's director of education, also said that all supervisors had been written to requesting they talk to their trainees about the seriousness of the cases and about 'what it means to be a professional'.