What is this standard about?
It provides a useful, ethical and robust code of practice for anyone conducting investigations. These could be in any of the following areas: accident, blackmail, fraud, family (e.g. for missing persons, kidnap, adoption), theft, loss, intellectual property, provenance (e.g. land), debt recovery, due diligence, employment or competitor intelligence investigations.
Who is this standard for?
- Private Investigators as well as employees or departments carrying out-in-house investigations, eg solicitors, insurers, financial institutions, communications companies and healthcare companies, to ensure the public is protected from any unscrupulous activity of puported investigators. This includes private investigators and employees carrying out in-house investigations, e.g. solicitors, insurers, financial institutions, communications companies and healthcare companies
- Anyone wishing to purchase investigative services from professional organisations of any size who can demonstrate their ability to provide the services that they offer, such as financial and operational resources.
Why should you use this standard?
It gives recommendations for the conduct, management, staffing and operational accountability of the provision of investigative services.
It provides a broad set of procedures to help investigative providers adhere to industry best practice. It also draws attention to case management procedures, data handling regulations and the employment practices that apply to investigations.
It recommends how an organization can demonstrate it has the financial and operational resources available to provide the services offered, is competent, and provides recourse in the event of a complaint.
Its use will help legitimate professionals and trustworthy investigators differentiate themselves from purported investigators who engage in unscrupulous activity. It will also help protect the public. Finally, its use could avert regulation if the industry demonstrates self-regulation.
What’s changed since the last update?
The standard has been revised to accommodate a wider range of investigations including into whistleblowing scenarios and accidents, so includes more discursive and explanatory text and revisions to some of the language.
The revision also reflects changing technology, specifically more sophisticated surveillance and data mining technologies and social media.
Private Investigators as well as employees or departments carrying out in-house investigations, eg solicitors, insurers, financial institutions, communications companies and healthcare companies, to ensure the public is protected from any unscrupulous activity of purported investigators.