WAPI News
The Chairman's Annual Report - Term 2004/2005
The end of yet another year in the life of WAPI draws to a close, the
AGM which took place in Birmingham will be followed by the WAPI 2005
Annual Banquet, which certainly looks as it will be another "Full
house" - In fact we had to change the Venue to allow for the unexpected,
but welcome demand for Banquet places!
To say that this year has been traumatic, would be an understatement!!
As the mandated WAPI Representative on the ISG - Investigator Sector
Group, my time has been cut-out attending the regular Meetings which
discuss and represent the concerns of our Members and the wider Sector
to the SIA - Security Industry Authority.
The single most important Issue during this year has been the Competence
Criteria, and it still does not appear to have been resolved - so far!
Whereas we all thought that the EU Directive on the Internal Market
would be the vehicle that would ease the EU Issues created by the UK
PSIA - This Directive will legislate against EU Governments that pass
or retain restrictive legislation, and fail to follow the EU policy
of free movement of both citizens and trade. We were then informed that
the SIA were going to deem the Industry as a "regulated profession"
thus falling under different criteria in terms of operating across the
European Union!
On researching this aspect, we found a Statutory Instrument which clearly
spelled out that if a Non UK Applicant (Migrant) wished to apply for
a licence to follow a "regulated profession" They would need
to select one of three optional criteria to become licensed.
(a) to produce evidence of professional experience;
(b) successfully to complete an adaptation period;
(c) to take and pass an aptitude test.
Thus I have "pushed" this pre-determined existing criteria
as the best option for the competence criteria, it would seem that it
would be both unacceptable and possibly illegal (EU Case Law) to mandate
a higher standard for a UK based Applicant than for a Migrant ?
Watch this space??
During the year, I also represented WAPI at Meetings with the SIA, and
as an ISG Member, I was priviledged to have participated on the Working
Group to determine the NOS - National Occupational Standards for the
Investigator Sector. These standards will become the Datum for most
tasks undertaken by Investigators in the UK. These standards will form
the backbone of Competence criteria and competence assessments in the
future.
I was also delighted to have represented WAPI at a Meeting with a Committee
of Japanese Consultants who had been retained by the Prefecture of Tokyo
(Police Authority) to study the Licensing of Investigators throughout
Europe.
PLUS I made submissions for the Norwegian Authorities who are considering
licencing their PI Sector.
I would like to express my thanks on behalf of WAPI to my Fellow ISG
Members - the ISG has enabled our Sector to sing from the same songsheet
in the Licensing Debate, and I do hope that the ISG will continue to
serve the represented Associations, as well as the non-aligned Investigators
out there - However, I would urge all Professional Investigators to
seriously consider joining one of the Professional Associations, preferably
WAPI ! - Seriously though, it is really important to demonstrate to
the SIA a strong Mandate.
WAPI has continued to grow, with many new Members from both the UK and
Overseas, the GC elected to allow all Overseas Members to have a Voting
Right, and to stand for Office. We are confident that the Membership
will continue to grow in 2006.
WAPI had a Vendor Booth at the Las Vegas World Investigators Conference
organised by PI Magazine owners Roe and Jimmie Mesis, (Jimmie I am proud
to say is a WAPI Honorary Member) And what an Event!! close to 1600
Delegates from all four corners of this increasingly small world converged
for the 4 days of top class Presentations, 100+ Trade Vendors, and a
Banquet of 600+ on the last evening! We achieved 21 sign-up Members
there - and over 500 of our Membership Packs were taken! A very well
deserved Thank you to our Vice Chair & Membership Secretary Beverley
Flynn and her most able Assistant Emma Rowley - Thank you both
As you will be aware, the Republic of Ireland has started the implementation
of the Private Security Services Act of 2004, like the UK, they have
created the PSA - Private Security Authority which is expected to start
the regulation of the Investigation Sector in late 2006 at best! The
Act has a number of Issues which WAPI is taking up on behalf of our
Irish Members. I attended a face to face with the Chief Executive of
the PSA with around 20 Investigators from around Ireland - interestingly,
seven of those present were WAPI Members. I hope to participate in the
future criteria decisions by the PSA and represent WAPI Members' concerns
in the process.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the terrible Event which destroyed
New Orleans, I am a Member of the LPIA - Louisiana Private Investigators
Association, and along with WAPI Member John Edwards have spent many
wonderful times at the PI Conferences in that City, I have extended
our wishes and concerns to the LPIA, and the Gulf Coast generally.
NALI - Robert Townsend stepped down as the National Director of NALI
(National Association of Legal Investigators) this year, and on behalf
of WAPI, I wished him well for the future.
As Assistant Editor (International News) for PI Magazine, I have been
able to submit items of News - It would be really nice to receive notice
of Association Meetings and PI Events + News items ??
Ian (D. Withers)
Chairman - WAPI
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