A look at the main private investigator associations in the UK, and some of the relevant security associations.
Security Industry Authority
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The Security Industry Authority is the body established to undertake licensing of the security industry. The SIA web site provides information on its responsibilities and its powers. |
Private Investigator Associations
Association of British Investigators
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The Association of British Investigators is the longest established organisation representing professional Private Investigators in the UK with its foundations laid way back in 1913. |
Council of International Investigators
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The Council of International Investigators was formed to encourage a greater association among owners and operators of investigation agencies. In addition, the Council exists to disseminate information relating to the proper and appropriate standards of practice and thus enhance the profession; create greater respect for the profession by operating ethically and with integrity; provide an enhanced quality of service for all clients at competitive rates by offering continuing education; and support only the highest quality professionals in the investigative business. |
Institute of Professional Investigators
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The Institute of Professional Investigators was founded in 1976. Its objects include to promote the recognition of professional investigation as a profession by government, law and public. |
Scottish Association of Investigators
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The Scottish Association of Investigators exists to represent all investigators in the private sector working in Scotland; to keep members updated with current and proposed legislation; and to make representations and recommendations to legislators on topics that affect investigators. |
World Association of Detectives
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With origins dating back to 1921, W.A.D. is the longest established and largest International Association of its kind in the world and remains the leading International Association for Professional Investigators and Security Service organizations. |
World Association of Professional Investigators
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The Association was founded in 2000. It covers all areas of investigation, public sector and private sector, companies and individuals, corporate and domestic. |
Other Associations
American Society for Industrial Security
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ASIS is the largest international educational organisation for security professionals, with over 35,000 members worldwide. ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programmes and materials that focus on both the fundamentals and the most recent advancements in security management. |
Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters
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The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters is a members’ institute and not a trade body. Originally founded in 1941 the Institute was granted a Royal Charter in 1961. This, together with the Code of Professional Conduct enables the Institute to exercise control over the professional standards and conduct of its members. |
Credit Services Association
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The Credit Services Association is the only National Association in the UK for companies active in relation to unpaid credit accounts, debt recovery agencies, tracing and allied professional services and has a history dating back to 1902. |
Ex Police in Industry and Commerce
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EPIC (Ex Police in Industry and Commerce) is an association of former Police Officers in the UK who are involved with security in industry and commerce. |
International Association of Auto Theft Investigators UK Branch
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The International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI) was formed in 1952 in order to improve communication and co-ordination among the growing family of professional auto theft investigators in the United States of America. The United Kingdom Branch of IAATI was formed in 2001. |
Internationale Kommission der Detektiv-Verbande
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Founded in 1964, the I.K.D., ‘Internationale Kommission der Detektiv-Verbande’ (International Federation of Associations of Private Detectives) is an International Umbrella Body consisting of Associations of Private Investigators and Security Practitioners throughout the world. The IKD is focused on maintaining the highest standards meeting its code of ethics and promoting harmonization of regulations and licensing process, particularly within the European Economic Area. |
Joint Security Industry Council
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The Joint Security Industry Council (JSIC) is the umbrella organisation for a broad group of security associations, inspectorates and organisations. JSIC helps coordinate representations from the industry in discussions with Government and the police on security industry matters, and in turn helps in the process of distributing information from these discussions and other sources back to the industry. |
Security Institute
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The Security Institute provides a programme that addresses the issue of professional validation for security professionals. The programme is designed to assess security management experience, academic qualifications, vocational qualifications and contributions to the security profession. It establishes an independent professional validation board, which will validate applications made by individuals seeking to attain a grading in the Security Institute. |