Upholding professional values
The A.B.I. is the only Association accredited to and endorsed by, not only the The Law Society but also, the Law Society of Scotland, The Lawyers Registration Scheme and the Department of Transport.
The Association of British Investigators is the longest established organisation representing professional investigation in the UK. With the absence of any statutory control of commercial investigation in the UK The Association recognised the need for self-regulation many years ago and set very high standards to meet the criteria for membership opting for quality rather than quantity.
The Association began life in 1913 under the title “British Detectives Association”. In 1946 following the cessation of hostilities in the Second World War a second association representing investigators, then commonly described as Private Inquiry Agents or Private Detectives, was formed under the title The Association of British Detectives. In 1953 these two associations conjoined under the title The Association of British Detectives. In 1970 this association formed itself into the current body we have today.
The Association is a non-profit organisation funded essentially by the membership annual subscription supplemented by the sale to its members and the general public of certain educational, investigative; legal and general information material. The finances of The Association are carefully managed so as to ensure a comfortable surplus of funds over requirements.
The strategic objective of The Association is to work toward the award of a Royal Charter, in order to become the Chartered Institute of Investigators.
The Association of British Investigators has been officially endorsed by the Law Society of England and Wales and has also been included in the Service Provider Scheme of the Law Society of Scotland.