Controversy in the PI World

There has been a lot of press lately about private investigators in relation to the downfall of the tabloid News of The World. This event has shed light on many unscrupulous and criminal acts alleged to have been perpetrated by senior officials of the News of The World, members of various police organizations and private investigators. The news of this case has led to calls for more stringent regulation of private investigators as well as greater accountability to privacy laws. Hacking of phones is the key issue in this case but private investigators have unfortunately been branded by some as rogues who will stop at nothing to get the information they need, even if that means breaking the law. I have always subscribed to the theory that a very small percentage of society is willing to cross the line no matter what their line of work or their socio-economic class. Private investigators are no different. In Canada and in particular Ontario, private investigators are well regulated and privacy laws are well defined. However, what determines if a private investigator will cross that line to get the information they think they need is mostly about their integrity. There are many ways to get information that are legal and some that are in that grey area where moral values may be at question rather than laws. Each professional investigator is responsible for making the right decision at the right time. I think we need to be careful about branding an entire profession with assumptions that they can’t be trusted to respect the privacy of others. We at Benard + Associates are proud to do what we do and we abide by the laws and always ensure we act with integrity when faced with those questionable moments. We have confidence in our colleagues and the profession as a whole, knowing that we are not alone.