SSAIB, the UK and Ireland fire, security and telecare certification body, is the first certification body to gain UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation against British Standard 102000 for Investigative Services.
This follows the Tyne and Wear-based inspectorate’s work on pilot assessments with a number of companies working in this field, which formed part of its UKAS assessment. BS102000’s recommendations cover areas including the conduct, management, staffing and operational accountability when providing investigative services, which can be used by buyers and customers in making their specification decisions.
SSAIB’s Manned Services Scheme Manager, Stephen Grieve, pictured, will be managing the new Investigative Services scheme. He says: “We’ve been waiting a long time to gain this additional accreditation, but I am delighted that all of our preparations and efforts have now reached fruition. This is a new sector for us and I’m looking forward to extending our reputation for offering high levels of certification service and customer support in other market areas to the investigative community.”
The Association of British Investigators (ABI) acknowledges that SSAIB has been at the forefront of offering certification against this new British Standard to its members and several have taken an early opportunity to achieve it. As ABI President Tony Imossi says: “BS102000 sets out the various areas of work ordinarily covered by a professional investigator for the commercial, domestic and professional markets and certification by a UKAS accredited auditor, such as SSAIB, is the ultimate verified quality assurance available in the investigation sector.”
The Government announced, in summer 2013, its intention to regulate private investigation activities and BS102000 was developed to help providers of investigative services demonstrate their accountability. As Tony Imossi told a recent ABI seminar in Liverpool, badging for PIs is unlikely before the next Parliamentary session, which starts after the May 2015 general election.
