You are here: News > Licensing Update
Licensing - an Update
My earlier “blog” was in real anticipation of the SIA bringing in licensing for the “private investigation” business. They have just announced that this will not happen before 2012. The reason that they give is that there are other priorities and that the sector poses no “threat” to the public. With recent exposés of MP expenses maybe the licensing eye needs to fall elsewhere.
This is an unusual move by Government bodies who seem keen to make the life of those in the “private investigation” business more and more difficult. They have been doing this by removing access or allowing “privacy” issues to dominate the rights of businesses and individuals to protect themselves or seek redress from those willing abuse the system.
Of course the “private investigation” business is a very wide ranging business from those who sit and watch, through process servers (who are in effect postmen), through to data researchers and specialist forensic and anti-espionage trades. Not to mention those who are likely to be brought in such as debt counsellors, and asset recovery agents. The whole “private investigation” business is just too big an area for a simple licence to cover. Many areas are all ready covered of course by the all invading Data Protection Act and Consumer Credit Licence. Sitting these beside are the Office of Fair Trading and Information Commissioners Office who keep a closer eye on the “private investigation” business than most others ----- it seems to me.
Email us on: head.office@daviscoleman.com Credit Services Association British Franchise Association