A banquet for 300 was among the highlights of three days of celebrations to mark the centenary of the Association of British Investigators (ABI) in London. Pictured left to right are former ABI president George Devlin, with ABI general secretary Eric Shelmerdine.
Other events included a reception at the Houses of Parliament hosted by former senior police officer Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate; and a welcome aboard HMS Belfast. The ABI ran its annual conference at the Grand Connaught Rooms in central London, the scene for the Saturday evening black tie banquet. Conference speakers were Det Supt David Clark, the director of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau; and Steve Eckersley, the former Greater Manchester Police detective chief inspector now the data protection watchdog the ICO’s head of enforcement.
Tony Imossi, the ABI president, told Professional Security before the conference that some 27 countries were represented. “It’s been well supported,” he said. A meeting of the European investigators’ umbrella body the IKD coincided with the centenary, at the Sherlock Holmes Hotel in Baker Street. Tony Imossi told Professional Security of how across Euorpe investigators as in Britain leading to the Leveson inquiry were taking the rap for others over data protection misuse. In his report to members he described preparations for the centenary as ‘a monumental task’ and praised among others life members Eric and Ann Shelmerdine. In his president’s report he also said: “Members will be aware that the licensing of investigation remains on the Government’s agenda but there remains an absence of political will to implement the suggestion by Lord Justice Leveson or detailed recommendations in the parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee report, to bring about licensing.” Imossi suggested the SIA transition to an industry-led body was a cause.
A retired Scotland Yard detective by the name of Harry Smale met in 1913 with others like-minded, to form the British Detectives Association. Its successor body, the Association of British Investigators, came to London in 2013 for three days of centenary celebrations. The long weekend saw the international investigators’ body the IKD hold its conference and lunch at Sherlock Holmes Hotel, in Baker Street, the haunt of the famed fictional detective. ABI, WAD and CII members were welcomed.
For the full programme visit – http://www.theabi.org.uk/the-association-articles/centenary-celebrations
