Cheat challenge

Sunny Bains's way forward in dealing with plagiarism cases offers a new slant on handling such offences (Opinion, February 16).

However, I find it a trifle naive that an academic department should decide on new punishments without first obtaining clearance from college authorities or at least checking whether the new punitive/lenient measures fall within existing guidelines - which far from "vague and open to interpretation" seem fairly straightforward. Surely to do otherwise, in an increasingly litigious age, is inviting challenge?

Paul Shanley.
Institute of Education.
University of London