Gary Murray of Egham, Surrey-based investigators Euro-Tec comments on the recently-released Home Office’s partial regulatory impact assessment about regulation of private investigators.
About Euro-Tec
A small partnership, it’s headed by a former RAF Police criminal and security investigator who is qualified in all aspects of investigations. Since 1984 the partnership has acted for the Treasury Solicitor and numerous other government departments, including the Ministry of Defence. Much of its work is done for the Home Office. Gary Murray is senior partner. He and all partners are members of the Association of British Investigators.
Options
Rather than the four options laid out in the Home Office document, he suggests perhaps relying on professional bodies such as the Association of British Investigators (ABI) and Institute of Professional Investigators (IPI), to regulate and vet all investigators seeking to engage in
business, who then enter an approved (by the SIA) Register of Investigators: or qualified investigators who are members of the ABI or the IPI undergo an enhanced CRB check, produce evidence of Liability Insurance, OFT and Data Commission registration, after which they are accepted as being qualified and competent to practise; those not yet qualified being probationers.
Gary Murray writes:
Having carefully studied this lengthy document, it is clear to the writer that in the event regulation of private investigators is implemented, unless logical, fair and carefully conceived procedures are put into place a shambolic and devastating state of affairs will prevail throughout the industry, but more so in respect of sole traders and small partnerships.
Throughout the Partial RIA there is continuing reference to ‘illegal types’ working within the industry, the general inference being that they are in abundance and that regulation is essential to control these people. This is not an accurate assessment. The truth is, criminal types do exist, but are few and far between – in fact, the number of corrupt Police Officers convicted and/or dismissed from the Police Force each year exceeds those exposed in private practise. Furthermore, those with a penchant for criminal activity within the private arena will not be deterred by SIA regulation, they will simply go about their business underground, completely ignoring any legislation: Regulation will have little or no effect on such people.
Also permeating the Partial RIA is an atmosphere that Private Investigators need to "raise standards of competence and professionalism in the Industry" (page 7). Nothing could be further from the truth. In the main, Investigators in the UK, especially those who have qualified for membership to the Association of British Investigators and The Institute of professional Investigators, operate to very high and exacting standards. These organisations have contributed greatly to standards within the industry, and their respective rules and discipline procedures ensure that only qualified, ethical and experienced operators are accepted into the industry. This writer concludes by respectfully suggesting that, if the whole business of regulation is not handled in a fair and logical manner, there will be great potential for a shambolic, costly, unfair situation to prevail.
