Private Investigation associations

Over the last year I had toyed with the idea of joining one of the UK Private Investigation bodies. I was not sure which one to join.

It’s a fact that most PI’s in the UK do not belong to any associations and I had been one of them for a fair few years. Most of my colleagues however, were members of one or more associations. When asked if I was a member of either of the main associations for the UK I used to reply “no” and found after some time that I felt a sense of shame in saying no. I felt like a bit of a fake, not that anyone ever made me feel this way, it’s just something I felt myself. After all having membership of some trade association is the norm for a plumber or an electrician so why should it be any different for a PI?

So I decided I wanted to get affiliated with one of the associations. I spoke to people who were members of these associations and weighed up the pros and the cons of both organisations. I listened to what got up the members noses about their memberships and what they got out of it and which one gave them the most from joining that particular association. Having listened for some time and hearing the same reports I decided to apply for membership to the ABI, I passed an on line exam and was called before an examining board who fired question after question at me and really raked me over the coals. The questions were to make sure that I knew the aspects of the PI industry and that I knew how to do it legally.

Grilling over and I was told that I had met the criteria and was accepted as a full member. So far I have got a lot out of the membership, I have been passed jobs that would have never come my way, had I not been a member. I go to regular meetings and meet new people in the industry and kept up to date about new legislation etc. I also now have new people that if I don’t know the answer all I have to do is call and help will be given. I now have a logo that I can proudly display on any correspondence letters or emails and glad that I made the move and joined the association.