Antonio Labrador Barquilla (APDPE): Cooperation between the prevention and security sector and the private detective sector is essential
El presidente de la Asociación Profesional de Detectives Privados de España (APDPE), afirma que “lo que ocurre es que aún no existen protocolos de actuación que se tengan como referencia”.
APDPE, which took part in the latest edition of SICUR, aims to lead this project and is calling on public authorities to take action in this area.
What areas does the Professional Association of Private Detectives of Spain (APDPE) focus its activities on, and what objectives has it set for 2026?
The APDPE focuses its main activities on defending the professional interests of private detectives in Spain. As the largest association and the main point of contact with public authorities, and continuing with a policy of professionalising the sector and providing it with greater legal certainty – which it currently lacks in some respects – we will adhere to the timetable set out in our agenda. The most significant item on this agenda is the presentation, which took place in February 2025, of a draft set of statutes within the framework of the Private Security Act 05/2014, which sets out the sector’s demands for which no regulatory framework has yet been established.
What challenges do you face in terms of prevention, safety and raising public awareness?
In truth, our sector does not play an explicit role in the areas of prevention and safety; what we are doing, however, is running campaigns through our professional practices to raise awareness amongst the public and, in particular, amongst public authorities and the business sector, encouraging them to set up analysis and monitoring departments to address workplace absenteeism, which currently represents a very significant economic burden, not only on the business sector but also on the public funds.
How important is cooperation between the prevention and security sector and the private detective sector?
That is an extremely interesting question and, of course, cooperation between the prevention and security sector and the private detective sector is essential. The truth is that, even today, there are no standard operating procedures to refer to. The APDPE aims to take the lead on this project and, to this end, it is important to liaise with business organisations – we currently have a partnership agreement with the Association of Self-Employed Workers (ATA) – and I would like to take this opportunity to call on public authorities to take action in this area.
How do private detectives help to prevent fraud and other problems?
Private detectives in Spain are a key tool in the prevention of fraud, workplace absenteeism and other situations in which the public authorities do not intervene, and the private detective is the sole and exclusive legal figure who should be called upon to resolve such disputes. However, the authorities ignore us, fail to take us into account and neglect a source of knowledge and expertise that would be essential in various situations with which the whole of society is familiar.
In short, and by way of summary, I would like to advocate for the role of private detectives in Spain – professionals who are recognised within our legal system, with extensive knowledge across various disciplines, and who operate strictly within the framework of the Private Security Act 05/2014 of 4 April.