The Society for Radiological Protection: incorporated by Royal Charter. How it was achieved

The Society for Radiological Protection (the Society) began to consider the potential for incorporation by Royal Charter, an important goal for many professional bodies in the UK, in the mid-1980s. Impetus grew during the 1990s; contributing to this in 1998 was the Society's new status as direct UK IRPA associate. In 2002, to emphasise that the Society is active over all sectors of radiation protection, sectorial committees were established, dealing with professional interests in the component sectors. Application for a Charter begins with a Memorandum to Her Majesty the Queen's Privy Council Office (PCO) with details of the Society, its achievements and why grant of a Charter would be in the public interest. The Society prepared a Memorandum and submitted it to the PCO in 2003. In 2004, the application was declined for several reasons, which were then considered. Contacts in Government Departments were briefed on the Society's activities. The Society and the Institute of Radiation Protection (IRP) had been considering amalgamation, and in 2005 the annual general meetings of the Society and IRP agreed to proposals for a merger. A new Memorandum was submitted to the PCO in 2005, and early in 2006 it was accepted. It was then necessary to draft a Charter and a Petition to HM the Queen in Council. One of the opportunities incorporated in the Charter is the provision to award the title 'Chartered Radiation Protection Professional' with the post-nominal letters 'CRadP' to suitable members. Draft documents were presented to the Society's 2007 annual general meeting, and passed through Society's governance procedures. Public consultation by the PCO took place during summer 2007. On 10 October 2007 an order granting a Charter of Incorporation was approved at the Privy Council held by the Queen. The Charter was presented to the Society on 11 December 2007. (author)