PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS’ GOVERNING BODIES TO FILL GOVERNMENT VOID ON REGULATION OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

In order to professionalise the private investigation sector and to complete the work that H.M. Government has consistently failed to complete since the introduction of the Private Security Industry Act of 2001, a consortium of professional bodies has published a joint Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

The Code has been agreed between a consortium of the Institute of Professional Investigators (IPI), World Association of Professional Investigators (WAPI) and UK Professional Investigators Network (UKPIN).

All members of these organisations will have to agree and comply with the Code’s requirements. This initiative accounts for approximately 1,000 investigators and it is hoped that other professional bodies will also adopt the Code.

This new Code goes beyond the bodies’ existing ethical guidelines and criteria proposed by the H.M. Government by adding the requirements to have Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII), register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and adopt the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Members of the above organisations will be bound by the Code and entitled to notify potential clients of this on their websites and other promotional material. In-house investigators, serving law enforcement officers and inactive retired members will be exempt from the requirement to have professional insurance and registration with the appropriate data protection body.  There will be no charge for members to adopt the Code.

The Code states:

As a member of one of the above organisations, I undertake the following:

1. I must be accountable for all my work and/or investigations, which I will carry out within the highest standards of legal, professional and ethical principles, ensuring that my activities are covered by appropriate professional insurance. I will only operate in subjects or disciplines for which I am are qualified and/or recognised as being competent.
2. I will treat all information received in the course of my work and/or investigations with discretion, confidentiality and in compliance with data protection law and principles. I must require confirmation that a client’s information and instructions are for lawful uses only and address any conflicts of interest, ensuring that I am personally or corporately registered with the appropriate Data Protection body.
3. I will deal professionally in all matters with discretion, courtesy, and confidentiality within ethical constraints. I must not deny any professional services to any client for any reasons of race, colour, religion, sex, accessibility needs, sexual preference, or national origin. I will interact with others with Courtesy, Fairness and in accordance with the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
4. I must not misrepresent or exaggerate my activities and/or services. I will uphold the aims and objectives of my professional organisation(s) and protect their reputation and that of their members.
5. I will maintain a high level of self-development and professional competence and keep up to date with legislation; techniques and any relevant disclosures required of me by my organisation, in particular any convictions recorded on the criminal database in my jurisdiction.
6. I will ensure that any others assisting me in my work will also comply with this Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. I will challenge and report any improper conduct of colleagues. I will refer all matters of conflict between members to the organisations’ governing body for arbitration, whose decision will be accepted as final and binding.

Board of the Institute of Professional Investigators