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Thread: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

  1. #1
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    NO LICENSE IS REQUIRED


    REGULATION OF THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATION INDUSTRY
    England and Wales

    There is currently no requirement for a private investigator to be licensed and you can trade unrestricted anywhere in England and Wales.

    In 2001 the Private Security Industry Act was enacted which regulated the licensing of private investigators. The enforcement of this act was passed to the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that was tasked with bringing in the licensing regime. However, with the latest government cutbacks, the SIA is to be disbanded and no alternate authority has been formed to supersede it. Licensing is not now anticipated, for least, several years to come, if at all.

    Should licensing ever come into force in the future the best way to ensure obtaining a license is to be a trained and trading as a private investigator. The best way to do both is with the UKPIN.

    Scotland and Ireland


    At present, no regulation of the private investigation industry is in effect. However, the Private Security Industry Act 2001 governing England and Wales is being considered as a model for legislation in Scotland.

    International Licensing


    Regulation of the a private investigation industry varies dramatically throughout the world, from not being allowed to trade at all and risking a prison sentence by doing so, to no regulation at all. Therefore, it is imperative that you ascertain your legal position for the country in which you want to act as a private investigator before you trade.

    Definition of Licensable Activity


    It is interesting to note that the Private Security Industry Act 2001 defined licensable activities requiring a license as:

    "A person engaged in surveillance, inquiries or investigations for the purpose of obtaining information about a person(s) activities or whereabouts, or the circumstances by which property has been lost or damaged will need to be licensed."

    “Surveillance” includes covertly listening to or recording conversations or other sounds and any method of covertly obtaining information.


    Interestingly, it does not cover the activities of a Process Server in the normal course of his work.

    Sources:

    http://www.ukpin.com/licensing.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securit...stry_Authority



    SOLUTIONS TO OBTAIN LICENSE:

    Contact the International Private Investigators Union and request details on how to set up an international private investigator agency in Colorado, USA, within 24 hours, to obtain a PI Agency Corporation License. Includes shared office, secretary, receptionist, phone, email, registered agent, and state fees for $299, which renews each year for as low as $99/year.

    Use the following contact link:

    http://www.ipiu.org/forums/sendmessage.php
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  2. #2
    Danielle Bosley is offline Lifetime Professional Management Member

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    Re: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

    So it sounds quite dangerous from what I've read above to attempt being a PI internationally? If I can perform my work from my CO address for a client in DC without having a DC license, why can I not do the same work from another state for a client in Ireland?

  3. #3
    Donna Reagan's Avatar
    Donna Reagan is offline Administrator
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    Re: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

    Quote Originally Posted by Danielle Bosley View Post
    So it sounds quite dangerous from what I've read above to attempt being a PI internationally?
    95% of all PI Cases are anonymous undercover assignments that do not pose a risk.

    Quote Originally Posted by Danielle Bosley View Post
    If I can perform my work from my CO address for a client in DC without having a DC license, why can I not do the same work from another state for a client in Ireland?
    All lawsuits should lead to Colorado where you have maximum protection, regardless of where the client is.


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  4. #4
    Danielle Bosley is offline Lifetime Professional Management Member

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    Re: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

    All lawsuits?

  5. #5
    David Copeland's Avatar
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    Re: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

    Quote Originally Posted by Danielle Bosley View Post
    All lawsuits?
    As long as you maintain no attachable assets in your headquarter corporation, then you have nothing to lose by not answering a lawsuit that may otherwise be extremely expensive to answer or go to trial. Colorado does not reveal ownership on its public records.

    Otherwise, you should have an addendum in all of your agreements that spells out where lawsuits will be handled, and the use of required mediation or arbitration in what state or jurisdiction. Without this addendum, a client could file in their local federal court (if in the US or it's Possessions), and force you to answer through the federal court in their state.

    The best long term protection is agency insurance which includes liability for errors and omissions, and to subscribe to an attorney on a monthly basis (which averages from $20 to $39 for unlimited phone advice, plus review of your agreements, documents at no charge, plus court representation on either state or federal level).

    Use the CONTACT US link at the bottom of this page and choose the item titled "Need an Attorney for $25 to $40 per month?"

  6. #6
    Filipe Rodrigues is offline Lifetime Professional Management Member

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    Re: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

    hallo
    pi internationaly the best is to be a anonymous undercover agent.
    filipe

  7. #7
    Filipe Rodrigues is offline Lifetime Professional Management Member

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    Re: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

    hallo
    England have the SIA from the industry of security. SIA investigator card
    what kind of law international for members ipiu and the Eurozone or between england and USA state of colorado we can have ?
    filipe

  8. #8
    Robert Davis is offline Lifetime Professional Management Member

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    Re: PI LICENSING - England & United Kingdom (No License Required)

    good to know

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