Sir

With regard to the recent coverage of fraud in science1, I would like to suggest some remedial actions to counter fraud and malfeasance in British universities.

I am not alone in my anger and contempt for universities that abuse scientists and others2,3. But it is difficult to obtain legal redress against a British university administration. A university with a royal charter has special status in common law that renders it invulnerable to prosecution in a county court.

An excellent survey of grievance procedures, by Don Staniford et al.4 of the National Postgraduate Committee, illustrates the problems clearly. The present system allows for complaints to be investigated by a ‘university visitor’, appointed by the Privy Council. But trying to get the Privy Council to act on your behalf is like getting a live eel into a jar of Swarfega.

The cause of academic fraud and malfeasance is greed and conceit with relative impunity. My suggested remedies are, first, to end the chartered status of British universities. Second, to register all research students directly with their universities and not to their supervisors. Third, for science journals to fund a task force to maintain a database of all suspected and proven agents of fraud and malpractice, and to investigate and collect relevant information. The task force would act as an advice bureau for honest scientists, with the power of naming and shaming all proven cases in the journals. Fourth, for all research funding bodies to check with the task force before allocating grants.