Attorney General
British Columbia will be the first province to introduce licensing requirements for Private Investigators Under Supervision (PIUS) licence applicants.
Under the new regulations, applicants to become private investigators under supervision will participate in required training, but will have hours under supervision reduced from 2400 hours to 2000 hours. The course will cover areas such as criminal and civil laws, human rights, privacy and civil liberty.
The Private Investigators' Association of B.C. (PIABC) has developed the course and partnered with the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) to deliver it across Canada. This course, or equivalent training, will be a mandatory requirement for new applicants for a PIUS licence as of Jan. 31, 2013.
A PIUS is licensed to work as a private investigator while being mentored by a private investigator with an unrestricted license. This trainer manages their professional development to ensure that the private investigator under supervision gains the necessary skills to qualify for an unrestricted licence after completing their training.
Quotes:
Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond -
"We are pleased to support this comprehensive online introduction to a private investigation course, the first such course developed in Canada in collaboration with a licensing government body. This program was developed by the industry at no cost to the taxpayers of British Columbia."
Taras Hryb, president of the PIABC -
"This significant evolution in licensing within the professional private investigation industry is supported by the Private Investigators' Association of B.C. The public interest is well served by ensuring that private investigators licensed to work while under supervision have the rudimentary knowledge necessary to properly and ethically serve their clients. Professional private investigation is evolving into specialized fields of work requiring significant training commitments. This first step in a career-long commitment to ongoing professional development is welcomed."
Quick Facts:
* B.C. is the only jurisdiction in Canada that offers PIUS licences. The Ministry of Justice has been working collaboratively with other jurisdictions to harmonize training standards for unrestricted private investigators (PI) and this will not impact that work.
* PIABC currently represents approximately 30-40 per cent of the PI industry in B.C., and the ministry enjoys a collaborative working relationship with this Association.
Learn More:
www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/securityindustry/worker/
Media Contact:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961
