WAPI News
Briefing: Controlling the UK’s Private Intelligence Industry
New briefing details the growth of the private intelligence industry in the UK and what needs to be done about it. Key findings The UK has become an offshore haven for the private intelligence industry Comprised of hundreds of private detectives, corporate intel...
Personal Planning Systems and GDPR
NEWS – “without comment” Personal Planning Systems and GDPR - Are You Getting It Right? Probably Not. Published on February 11, 2022 David Palmer CIPI FCILEx Looking to Teach Time Management to Law Enforcement Professionals. Author 'Police Time Management', 'The Three...
BS102000 – WAPI and IQ Verify
NEWS – “without comment” BS102000 - WAPI and IQ Verify “@IQ Verify are pleased to announce that as of today, all members of the World Association of Professional Investigators (WAPI) are entitled to a 20% discount on our accredited BS102000:2018 audits for the...
THE BOOK: PRIVATE EYE, SECRET SPY
I am pleased to advise/confirm that my Memoirs were finally published in April 2021 under the title of “PRIVATE EYE, SECRET SPY” Both Hardcover and Paperback versions plus Kindle are available from Amazon, or through https://wapi.org/members-publications/ For ‘signed’...
ICO GDPR CODE OF CONDUCT – UPDATE
ICO GDPR CODE OF CONDUCT – UPDATE So as to keep WAPI members up to date with the ICO’s possible introduction of a GDPR Code of Conduct for Private Investigators, we have carried out research and also made a formal approach to the ICO, the result of which is we are...
Daniel Morgan Murder – a Timeline…….
Scotland Yard condemned for 'institutional corruption' in long-awaited report into murder of Daniel Morgan. A timeline of the events surrounding the investigation can be found here: Daniel Morgan Murder Credit to Sanchia Berg of BBC News
UK GDPR – THIRD BIRTHDAY!
LEGAL UPDATE – INFORMATION: Specifically written for Northern Ireland, however – applicable throughout the UK: Cleaver Fulton Rankin Most Read: Contributor UK, March 2021 European Union: GDPR 3 Years On – Key Issues To Consider 31 May 2021 by Aisling Byrne - Cleaver...
WAPI – FOLLOW UP – Online Slander – “Reputation Management”
REPUTATION MANAGEMENT CASES: On Apr 26, 2021 News “without comment” posted an Article entitled as Slander – “Reputation Management” By kind consent of US PI Steve Krivit. I have received a number of requests and comment from our readers for additional and follow-up...
WAPI Member Publications
WAPI is pleased to announce the launch of its “Members Publications” at: https://wapi.org/members-publications/ After receiving numerous requests from WAPI Members, eGroup Members and the General Public, WAPI has published a list of current publications available...
WAPI EXPANDS GC
NEWS – “without comment” WAPI co-opts another Governing Council Member: To further strengthen and broaden the Governing Council, the Association are delighted to announce that Paul Champion has been co-opted to the GC. Paul will assume a consultancy role to assist the...
WAPI Member – JOHN HUGHES – RIP
NEWS – “without comment” JOHN HUGHES – RIP John’s funeral is on Monday February 22, 2021 - There is a live stream – details as follows: Service Date 22-Feb-21 at 12:00 Service Chapel Chapel - Flintshire Website https://www.obitus.com/ Username Mela1614 Password...
EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR WAPI MEMBERS – OSINT Training Course
Our friends over at ISS Training Limited have offered WAPI Members a fabulous discount on their extremely popular OSINT training course. In the recent change to classroom based learning, ISS Training Limited have now adapted this course and are delivering it as a...
UK: Defendants no longer required to state nationality at the start of criminal cases
NEWS – “without comment” Defendants no longer required to state nationality at the start of criminal cases 9 February 2021 by Samuel March On 8 February 2020, small but significant changes were made to the Part 3 (Case Management) of the Criminal Procedure Rules and...
UK: USE OF THE ICO LOGO ON YOUR WEBSITE?
NEWS – “without comment” UPDATE TO USE OF THE ICO LOGO ON YOUR WEBSITE? The link to the Open Government Licence – (Ref: which you can find here if you are interested OGL v3.0) The location is at:...
UK: USE OF THE ICO LOGO ON YOUR WEBSITE?
NEWS – “without comment” Using text from the ICO is permissible as it falls under the OGL (Open Government Licence - which you can find here if you are interested OGL v3.0). This is because using the text meets the aims of the Government to distribute information, so...
UK: PROPOSED NEW BEST PRACTICE FOR WITNESS STATEMENTS
NEWS “without comment” “Witness Statements - If approved by the CPR Rule Committee, this new Practice Direction could come into force from April 2021” Factual witness evidence - new discipline Addleshaw Goddard LLP Full Article:...
WAPI: Members Professional Investigation Training – Distance Learning
WAPI GC ARE DELIGHTED TO OFFER THIS EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT TO ALL WAPI MEMBERS Professional Investigation Training – Distance Learning Course Accreditation by SFJ Awards Members can gain access to this invaluable training and enjoy valuable discounts. The Course Details...
WAPI AGM – Tuesday 8th December 2020
WAPI ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TUESDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2020 The Association's AGM will be held on Tuesday 8th December 2020 virtually via Zoom Any WAPI member who wishes to attend the AGM, will need to notify our General Secretary via email on...
WAPI ADDS INVESTIGATOR TOOLS FACILITY
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR WAPI MEMBERS - October 2020 WAPI ADDS Investigator "Tools Facility" to the website. WAPI are pleased to announce further enhancement to the WAPI website, by way of providing an “Investigators’ Tools” section in the protected members area. WAPI members...
WAPI ANNUAL CHARITY DONATION – 2020
WAPI are proud to announce that in the absence of our annual raffle, usually held at the Wapi Banquet & Training day, that we have this year made a donation to: LOCATE INTERNATIONAL – A NON PROFIT ORGANISATION Locate International Are a non-profit organisation,...
WAPI Code of Practice for GDPR Update
"NEWS WITHOUT COMMENT" By now you will have read that WAPI has produced a GDPR Code of Practice for its Members and uploaded this to its website. This comprehensive and professionally prepared document assists the Member Investigator in becoming "GDPR Compliant" which...
WAPI Code of Practice for GDPR **NOW AVAILABLE**
NEWS “without comment” WAPI Members WAPI has now prepared its own Private Investigators Code of Practice in respect of GDPR for the benefit of its Members and it appears on the WAPI website www.wapi.org under the heading of Member Resources in the Members Only area....
UK: THE ABI PROPOSAL TO THE ICO
NEWS “without comment” The ABI - Association of British Investigators proposed GDPR Code of Conduct. As you may be aware, the ABI is preparing a Code of Conduct for investigative and litigation support services. The draft document went out for the first phase of the...
WAPI CHAIRMAN RESPONDS TO ‘INSULAR’ ABI PROPOSAL!
NEWS “without comment” WAPI CHAIRMAN RESPONDS TO ‘INSULAR’ ABI PROPOSAL! The ABI proposal to the Information Commissioners Office. Consultation Document. Dear Colleagues I write in response to the ABI's proposal to the Information Commissioners Office. The published...
WAPI : Project on non-police investigators
Members In discussion with Professor Mark Button of Portsmouth University, who is compiling a research project which is applicable to us in this profession, I am posting the relevant links here for members participation. Any members participation is completely...
WAPI: ISS Training Ltd to provide training and qualifications to WAPI & eGroup Members
NEWS FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIRMAN: The WAPI Chairman and Governing Council are delighted to inform the membership, and our wider eGroup subscribers that the Association has finalised an agreement with ISS Training Limited to provide training and qualification...
WAPI BLACK TIE BANQUET
Apex Seminars and Events are pleased to announce the World Association of Professional Investigators Banquet. UPDATE. 1st Prize in Raffle - Just announced! 2 Day OSINT Workshop with Neil Smith, in either Crawley, West Sussex or Leeds. Worth £714.00! Donated by Qwarie...
Auction of Domain Name ukinvestigators.co.uk for Charity
As a non-profit organisation WAPI still has to be careful with the funds that we have, to ensure that the aims of the association are met in a cost effective manner. To that end we are not always in a position to hold an Annual Banquet if the funds don’t permit,...
WAPI Vice Chairman Tony Smith invited to the ABI Banquet
WAPI Vice Chairman Tony Smith was kindly invited to the ABI Banquet on Saturday 23rd April 2016 which was held in Liverpool. A great night was had by all and the hospitality shown by the President, Paul Champion, together with General Secretary Eric Shelmerdine was...
W.A.P.I Banquet 2015
W.A.P.I held their annual Banquet at the Liverpool Marriott Hotel on Saturday 31st October 2015. We were very honoured to have Simon Weston OBE as our After Dinner Speaker and what an entertaining speech he gave! During the evening, WAPI’s Stuart Withers gave details...
WAPI & IPPIA Dublin Seminar – 26th September 2015
The WAPI & IPPIA Dublin Seminar was indeed a great success on Saturday 26th September 2015. The Keynote Speaker Paul Scanlon Chief Executive PSA, was very informative and made some interesting comments to take away. The “legal eagles” in the afternoon session...
WAPI Dublin Seminar
The World Association of Professional Investigators - (WAPI) and The Irish Professional Private Investigators Association - (IPPIA) Professional Investigator’s Open Day SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2015 AT JURY’S HOTEL, CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY, DUBLIN 1, IRELAND 08.45 to 10.00...
WAPI Member Anthony Heaton receives Royal recognition!
BROWNSWORD RECEIVES ROYAL RECOGNITION April 21, 2015 Today, on the Queen’s birthday, we are delighted to announce that The Brownsword Group have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously approved the Prime...
IQ Level 3 Professional investigator award / SIA competency test
As no doubt you have seen from the recent posting regarding Baroness Henig question to Her Majesty’s Government, as to what progress they have made on the introduction of a system of regulation for private investigators, as announced by the Home Secretary on 31 July...
WAPI Member praised in high profile stalking case
The family of Dr Alison Hewitt, who was recently awarded £130,000 compensation from the Home Office, has praised the private investigator who helped bring her stalker to justice. Dr Hewitt's mother, Pam, says Tony Smith of Insight Investigations 'helped save my...
Miriam Ettisch-Enchelmaier BA first WAPI honorary member
Miriam Ettisch-Enchelmaier BA is the first WAPI Honorary Member. She is a longstanding, respected and very well known German PI. The Constitution of WAPI allows for a maximum of three Honorary Memberships each year, to be awarded to outstanding Individuals who, in the...
Forensic Services – 1st Priority Forensics
Did he commit the crime? Throughout history people have used physical characteristics to identify others. Physical characteristics, however, can be disguised. If a man commits a crime and a witness recalls that he had blonde hair and blue eyes it will be extremely...
Training – Academy of Professional Investigation
The Academy of Professional Investigation is WAPI's approved training provider an established and well-respected investigation training school, which has been in existence since 1997. The Academy specialises in investigative training and has had the BTEC Advanced...
WAPI Chairman’s Message
During these times of uncertainty in respect of Investigator licensing situation, it has become more and more important that potential Users of Professional Investigative Services including Members of the Public, Legal Profession, Business and Corporate Clients, are...
Name the firms who used Private Detectives or MP’s will: Keith Vaz’s warning to police who still haven’t revealed 102 culprits
The names of blue chip companies that used rogue private detectives will finally be revealed next week. Full story can be read here: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2410251/Firms-used-private-investigators-named-shamed-MPs-blue-chip-hacking.html
Rogue private eyes report published in full
A controversial report by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency detailing the activities of rogue private investigators has been placed on the internet. The investigative website Exaro published an "unredacted" version of the so-called "Project Riverside" report,...
Journalists’ body warns on private investigator laws
A journalists’ trade body has raised concerns that government plans to regulate private investigators could have ‘serious spin-off implications’ for investigative journalism. Full story can be found...
WAPI interviewed by Channel 4 News
BREAKING NEWS – Private Investigators to need licence
Operating as an unlicensed private detective is to be made illegal, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. Full details can be found here: - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23519690
Ecuador embassy accuses UK firm for bugging
Ecuador embassy in the UK announced that the British firm Surveillance Group Limited had bugged the building. Read more at www.neurope.eu/article/ecuador-embassy-accuses-uk-firm-bugging
22 law firms on hacking list
A total of 22 law firms feature on a list of organisations and individuals linked to rogue private investigators, MPs have revealed. Legal firms feature most heavily on a list of 102 names passed to the Home Affairs Select Committee by the Serious Organised Crime...
Rogue Private Eyes : The Next Hacking Scandal
The agency often described as 'Britain's FBI' is being hauled in front of MPs to address allegations it has not done enough to deal with the threat posed by rogue private investigators who use criminal methods to access private information. So what does the Serious...
FSA in Private Investigator Probe
NEWS ITEM : FSA in Private Investigator Probe. Full details here: http://www.insuranceage.co.uk/insurance-age/news/2254088/fsa-in-private-investigator-probe
How to track down your inner Sherlock Holmes
WAPI's preferred training provider, the API make the news! When you dread going to work and feel you’ve reached a glass ceiling, a career change could be right for you. Retraining can provide a highly satisfying new lease of life and unleash new personal...
WAPI Member Johnnie Withers receives Polar Medal from HRH Prince Charles
WAPI are extremely proud to announce that member Johnnie Withers has today received one of two Polar Medals from HRH Prince Charles in the New Year Honours List. May we extend our congratulations to Johnnie on this momentous day!
WAPI Member Awarded the Polar Medal
WAPI are honoured to announce that one of it's members, John Withers, has been awarded the Polar Medal for outstanding achievement and service to the United Kingdom in the field of polar research by Her Majesty The Queen in the New Years Honours List....
Photographs are now available from our 10th Anniversary Event courtesy of Michael Palmer Photography
The link you will need is as follows: http://www.photoboxgallery.com/12170/collection?album_id=996294791 This is password protected, so please contact the General Secretary on generalsecretary@wapi.org for access.
SIA Update
On the 1st November 2012, Governing Council members Ian Withers and Stuart Withers attended the SIA Seminar in London. There was very little content in respect of the Investigation Sector, however the SIA Chairman Baroness Ruth Henig did cover the Sector in her...
WAPI – AGM 2012
WAPI ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2012 The Association's AGM will be held on Saturday the 17th November 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Oxford, Heythrop Park, Enstone, Chipping Norton, OX7 5UE Any WAPI member who wishes to attend the AGM, will need to...
WAPI NEEDS YOU!
Would you like to make a difference in our industry? If the answer is yes, then perhaps you would consider joining the WAPI Governing Council for the 2012/2013 term and beyond? A vacancy has arisen on our Governing Council and we would like to open up the position to...
British Process Servers Guide
The Process Servers industry has been eagerly awaiting the publishing of the new British Process Servers Guide. Written by Stuart Withers, Helen Withers and Jorge Salgado-Reyes, the guide is the offspring of the old yet respected NIG Process Servers Guide 2000....
Home Affairs Committee Report into Licensing
Regulation of Private Investigators The Home Affairs Committee report into Private Investigators is now available from http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/publications/ The main recommendations are: -...
THE WAPI ANNIVERSARY BANQUET – 19/11/2011
A full day of training was attended by around 60+ Delegates, including some Media Delegates on Saturday November 19th 2011 in Greenwich South East London. A total of 11 Countries were represented from as far as Seychelles, Israel, Ukraine, China, USA, Slovenia and...
WAPI GC Election Results for the 2011/2012 Term
During the AGM held on Friday the 18th November 2011 at the De Vere Devonport House, King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9JW the following were appointed to the Governing Council for the 2011/2012 term: Beverley Flynn - Lady Chairman / Treasurer Tony Smith -...
Seminar – Saturday 19th November 2011
De Vere Devonport House, King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9JW AGENDA 08.00 – 08.50 – Registration – Coffee & Breakfast Snacks 08.50 – 09.05 – Introduction & Welcome 09.05 – 10.20 – Part 1 – ‘Internet Profiling’ with Neil Smith 10.20 – 10.40 – Coffee...
Journalists Join Private Investigators for WAPI “Blagging” Conference
The ten year anniversary of the World Association of Private Investigators, WAPI, will see journalists attending their conference and banquet on Saturday 19th November 2011 in order to get the hard facts and law behind hacking and blagging. There have been many major...
WAPI ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR AFTERNOON SEMINAR SPEAKER
Saturday 19th November 2011 De Vere Devonport House, King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9JW DAVID SWARBRICK David Swarbrick was a solicitor in private practice for over thirty years and now writes on legal issues, publishing the lawindexpro case law database,...
GC Member attending Conservative Party Conference – and will express WAPI members concerns
The Conservative Party Conference - 2 October 2011 GC Member Ian Withers will be attending the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester from Sunday 2nd October 2011. On behalf of WAPI he will be distributing the following Release to as many MP's as possible to...
WAPI Vice Chairman was interviewed on BBC Radio5 on the latest phone hacking scandal that is on the front pages almost daily!
Yesterday the nation awoke to the news that the News of The World phone hacking scandal had taken another dramatic turn, murdered teenager Milly Dowler's mobile phone may have been hacked whilst she was missing in 2002 and her parents phones may too have been...
Allied Detectives “i-Enquire” app launched on the iPhone
The world’s first interactive iPhone app for Solicitors and legal professionals to appoint an Enquiry Agent, Process Server or Private Investigator was launched today by Allied Detectives. A new iPhone app has been launched which allows Solicitors, Barristers and...
WAPI AGM TO BE HELD ON 16TH OCTOBER 2010 | ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
@ THE VICTORY SERVICES CLUB, 63-79 SEYMOUR STREET, LONDON, W2 2HF Any Full Member or Above - in Good Standing may nominate themselves, or be nominated to stand for election for the 2010/2011 Term of Office. Each Nominee will require one Seconder (WAPI Member Full or...
NOTICE TO WAPI MEMBERS & PRACTISING PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS
NOTICE TO WAPI MEMBERS & AND THOSE PRACTISING PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT JOINING ONE OF THE THREE UK PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS A lot of “noise” is being made currently in “pushing” for Members of one Association to apply for a Criminal...
THE 2010 Texas Licensed Investigators Association) & PI Magazine World Investigators Conference
THE WORLD ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATOR are proud and pleased to announce that WAPI is to be a Co-Sponsor of the next World Investigators Conference 2010 in Dallas Texas from March 10/13, 2010 “Everything is BIG in Dallas!!” The setting of this...
WAPI supports ABI on phone hacking furore
The World Association of Professional Investigators concurs with the following statement published by the Association of British Investigators, which is now partly re-produced by kind consent of the Association of British Investigators. Unlawful Practices The...
UK – CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) Checks
Following the mass of emails and communications received from the UK Investigation Sector generally over the past week, the Governing Council has directed me to respond to the topic as follows. A number of Issues have arisen in respect of the proposed requirement for...
WAPI AGM 2006/2007
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - OCTOBER 12th 2007 The Association's AGM will take place at 1pm on Friday October 12th , 2007 at the London offices of WAPI: 212 Piccadilly London W1J 9HG Any WAPI Member who wishes to attend in person, please notify me ASAP to arrange...
Miriam Ettisch-Enchelmaier BA
Miriam Ettisch-Enchelmaier BA is the first WAPI Honorary Member. She is a longstanding, respected and very well known German PI. The Constitution of WAPI allows for a maximum of three Honorary Memberships each year, to be awarded to outstanding Individuals who, in the...
Introduction from the Chairman
Users of Professional Investigative Services including members of the public, legal profession, business and corporate clients, are able to select a credible Professional Investigator who is recognized as a “professional” and as such is a member of an established and approved professional association such as The World Association of Professional Investigators (WAPI).
Further Reading;
Update from Chairman July 2023
Tony Smith, Chairman