A new protocol explaining when and how the General Optical Council will deal with breaches of the Opticians Act has been published.
The protocol for the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, which was approved at the Council's meeting held on May 19, sets out how the GOC will deal with individuals and businesses that are suspected of various offences.
These include selling contact lenses without the involvement of a registered professional (including over the internet), testing sight while unregistered, falsely claiming to be a registered optician and selling plano contact lenses illegally.
The protocol will allow the GOC's registrar to decide whether or not to pursue a prosecution, rather than this being done by committee as had previously been the case.
David Howell, the GOC's director of regulatory services, said: 'We take breaches of the Opticians Act extremely seriously and this protocol sets out the action we will take when we suspect the law has been broken.'
He explained that this may involve conducting investigations and bringing criminal prosecutions in appropriate cases, with the overriding objective of protecting, promoting and maintaining the health and safety of the public. 'We have begun to apply this policy, and in several cases the alleged activity has ceased following initial contact from us,' he said.
The protocol is now available on the GOC website. Anyone who wishes to report a suspected breach of the Opticians Act should telephone the GOC on 020 7580 3898 and select option 2. The GOC said it was currently looking at 81 allegations (News 19.05.11).