Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the Institute of Professional Investigators advocating statutory controls over the security industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggSix hon. Members have very recently written enclosing correspondence from the Institute of Professional Investigators, or from companies and investigators who are members of the institute, advocating statutory control to support self-regulation.
We fully understand the desire on the part of the Institute of Professional Investigators for proper regulation of its profession. We do not agree with its view that such regulation should be by statute. We shall continue to support and encourage self-regulation for professional investigators as we do for the private security industry.