Logo image
Back
Legal Control of Private Investigators and Associated Private Agents: Profile and Issues
Conference presentation

Legal Control of Private Investigators and Associated Private Agents: Profile and Issues

Samantha Hardy and Timothy Prenzler
Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC) Conference, 15th (Melbourne, Australia, 21-Feb-2001–23-Feb-2001)
2001
url
http://www.anzsoc.org/View
Webpage

Abstract

Criminology
Effectively regulating the conduct of private investigators is a difficult task. The broad scope of their activities exposes them to a number of areas of common law and various statutes. Unfortunately, the State and Territory legislation relating to the licensing of investigation and commercial agents does not come close to a comprehensive code of conduct and there is little consistency across the different jurisdictions. The licensing schemes have contributed little to the effective regulation of private investigators, largely due to the lack of effective mechanisms to enforce accountability. The piecemeal regulation also leaves private investigators uncertain as to their rights and obligations under the law and members of the public unsure as to what to do when they are aggrieved by a private investigator's conduct. This article reviews the laws relating to private investigators, including the various licensing schemes. It also considers the relationship between private investigators, their clients and the public. It concludes that the law as it currently stands is generally adequate to balance the rights and interests of all, but that there is a need to improve accountability mechanisms by improved uniform licensing schemes, training and an enforceable code of conduct

Details

Metrics

358 Record Views
Logo image