| Until recently, private investigators in the United | | | | records to which a person has a right of access; |
| Kingdom have not required any special licence. | | | | and published works; and |
| That situation looks likely to change soon, | | | | * activities carried out with the knowledge or |
| however. | | | | consent of the subject of the investigation. |
| In May 2001 the Private Security Industry Act | | | | Once licensing is introduced, anyone involved in |
| was passed by the British Parliament. This paved | | | | providing contracted private investigation services |
| the way for a system of licensing for the private | | | | will need a licence. This includes employees, |
| security industry. The Act separated the industry | | | | employers, managers, supervisors and directors |
| into four key segments: door minders/bouncers, | | | | or partners of private investigation companies. |
| wheel-clampers, manned security and private | | | | According to the SIA website (see below), a |
| investigators. | | | | partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) has |
| The licensing system is being implemented by the | | | | been carried out on the licensing of private |
| Security Industry Authority (SIA). Everything so | | | | investigators. This was a wide-ranging review, |
| far is running fairly smoothly, with the entire | | | | which looked at a range of options, and all |
| security industry in England and Wales being | | | | interested parties were invited to submit their |
| regulated as from 2005 on a sector by sector | | | | comments. The next stage is that the Home |
| basis. The PI sector is last on the list, and at the | | | | Office will publish a full Implementation Impact |
| time of writing (August 2008) there is still no | | | | Assessment (IIA) that will give details of the |
| definite date for the introduction of licensing for | | | | approach to be taken. As yet there is no |
| PIs. | | | | indication on when the IIA will be published. |
| At present it is too early to say exactly how the | | | | The above sums up the information available |
| new licensing system for private investigators will | | | | about the proposed licensing of private |
| operate. However, the SIA say that operators will | | | | investigators in England and Wales (and, by |
| need an SIA licence "if they are engaged in | | | | extension, Scotland and Northern Ireland) at the |
| surveillance, inquiries or investigations for the | | | | present time. For the very latest information, you |
| purpose of obtaining information about a person | | | | may wish to check the SIA website at You can |
| or person(s) activities or whereabouts, or the | | | | also phone the SIA on 08702 430 100, or write |
| circumstances by which property has been lost or | | | | to them at Security Industry Authority, PO Box |
| damaged." | | | | 9, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE82 6YX, UK. |
| The SIA say that the following activities will NOT | | | | If you are currently considering becoming a |
| require a licence: | | | | private investigator, there is every incentive to |
| * activities exclusively for the purposes of market | | | | proceed now before licensing is introduced. At |
| research; | | | | present, there is no requirement for investigators |
| * activities exclusively concerned with a credit | | | | to be licensed (although if, for example, your |
| check; | | | | work involves collecting money on a client's behalf, |
| * professional activities of practising solicitors and | | | | you may have to apply for a consumer credit |
| Barristers; | | | | licence). Once licensing comes in, however, |
| * professional activities of practising accountants; | | | | would-be entrants to the profession may be |
| * professional activities of journalists and | | | | required to obtain specific job-related qualifications, |
| broadcasters; | | | | while those already working in the sector may |
| * activities exclusively relating to reference to | | | | qualify for full or partial exemption from this |
| registers which are open to the public; registers or | | | | requirement. |