Regardless of regulatory inertia, a partnership between a professional association and certification body to support access to standards such as BS102000:2018 is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for the investigations sector, writes Laurence Clarke, Certification Manager at the UKAS accredited certification body IQ Verify Ltd.
Within any article or publication that considers the needs of the investigative sector you will find reference to three, often overlapping, concepts:
– The need for better regulation;
– The role of professional registration; and
– The value of certification against national standards.
Each of the above plays an important role in shifting the paradigm of what is expected of an operator committed to the highest standards of practice. Through acting to shine a spotlight on what best practice looks like, those operators whose actions fall beneath expected standards become less able to hide in the shadows.
Now of course, if all three of these quality measures were applied simultaneously, the world of private investigations would be revolutionised and scandals – such as those identified by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in 2008 – would be a thing of the past. Alas we are not quite there yet as the crowd favourite, regulation, continues to trail the pack.
However, we do have some good news to report in that a bridge has finally been made between professional registration and formal certification such that these quality mechanisms no longer need operate in complete isolation.
A brief recap of how we got here
It is well known that regulatory inaction continues to plague the investigations sector. As a brief reminder, the UK Government first considered the regulation of private investigators within the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Flash forward to 2013 and the Home Affairs Select Committee published its fourth report on the private investigations industry within which it reiterated calls for urgent government regulation of the investigations sector. Two decades on and nothing has really changed.
While updates to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA) following the Leveson Inquiry have absolutely been a positive step, non-specific legislation such as these cannot adequately capture the full breadth of activities specific to private investigations. Frustratingly, we are now at the point where the articles, reports and papers imploring for better sector regulation outnumber the checks and balances that are actually in place by an order of magnitude. Fortunately, regulation was not the only weapon we had in our arsenal to tackle the unscrupulous.
Professional associations and national standards
Professional associations are seen by many within the sector as an accessible step towards better investigation standards – providing their membership with a code of ethics against which work can be delivered and meaningful improvements made. While of course there are differences between the various associations in focus and priorities, core to each is the desire to support those investigators committed to positive change.
BS 102000:2018 is the British Standard for the provision of investigative services. Formal certification by an accredited body helps providers of investigation services to demonstrate conformity to these standards and accountability through the requirement of external verification. Of the many standards that are available, BS 102000:2018 is undoubtedly the most influential standard for the investigations sector.
When considered in the context of a lack of regulatory oversight, professional membership and formal organisational certification form the backbone of self- regulation in the industry. With this in mind, we felt it high time that these two important beacons of best practice were closer linked.
After spending some time consulting with the various professional associations within the sector, we are delighted to announce that World Association of Professional Investigators (WAPI) have entered into a partnership with IQ Verify to promote better standards – and value – to their membership. In an effort to reward professional membership and reduce barriers to access, WAPI members now receive a 20pc discount on BS 102000:2018 certification through IQ Verify.
Paul Champion, the Vice-Chairman of WAPI said: “With the continued absence of licensing in the UK despite many years of promises, the World Association of Professional Investigators (WAPI) are pleased to be able to offer our membership the opportunity to take their professional standards even higher. Certification against BS 102000:2018 provides investigative organisations with an independent verification of their adherence to the best practice standards, an accolade of value to business owners and customers alike. Through partnering with IQ Verify we are pleased to be able to make this certification more financially achievable for those within our membership who are interested in pursuing formal certification.”
Over the next few months, WAPI will be releasing a series of follow up documents, guides and templates intended to prepare its members to engage in BS 102000:2018 certification. We recognise that audits are a daunting prospect for any organisation.
Through reducing these two key pain points – both financial and administrative burden – it is hoped that this will give more organisations the confidence to step forward and take the leap towards recognised British Standards. We cannot continue to hold our breath for regulation without running the risk of jeopardising the great strives this industry has taken in recent years.
If self-regulation remains the only available option for the sector, supporting one another and rewarding engagement through professional partnerships is essential to getting this done properly.
For more, contact us at [email protected].
