Supervisory body for private detectives in France since 2012, the CNAPS has taken over from the departmental prefectures. In charge of issuing licenses to practice and controlling the detective profession, let’s take a closer look at this establishment.
History of CNAPS
Created by the law of March 14, 2011, the National Council for Private Security Activities took office on January 1, 2012.
The public administrative establishment is placed under the supervision of the Minister of the Interior and more precisely of the Director of Civil Liberties and Legal Affairs.
He is in charge of regulating access to the profession and controlling it.
Organization of the CNAPS
The College
The CNAPS is administered by a College of 25 members comprising representatives of the State, professionals in private security activities, experts and magistrates.
There are 6 thematic committees on the main subjects for which the Council is responsible.
CNAC National Commission for Approval and Control
The National Approval and Control Commission (CNAC) implements the decisions of the College, ensures the consistency of the decisions of the interregional and local approval and control commissions and serves as an appeal commission in the event of an appeal. in relation to a decision of a regional commission.
CIAC Interregional approval and control commissions
As close as possible to professionals in the sector, seven of them spread over the metropolitan territory while there are two others for overseas territories.
They are composed of twelve members each (including three members from the private security professions) and they are the ones who examine the requests for approval which are presented to them once the territorial delegations have finished investigating the cases.
CLAC Local approval and control committees
Finally, 3 CLAC Local Approval and Control Commissions, each made up of 8 members, are in charge of territories that are not French departments.
These interregional and local approval and control committees are responsible for suspending or withdrawing authorizations, approvals and professional cards.
In addition, they have a disciplinary role and can issue a warning, a reprimand, or a temporary ban on practice not exceeding five years.
They are also the ones who impose fines on companies and non-salaried managers.
CNAPS central services
The director of the CNAPS is in charge of administrative and budgetary management, the organization of control missions in accordance with the guidelines set by the College.
Disciplinary action before the interregional commissions is also at his charge.
List of professional activities for which the CNAPS is responsible
In accordance with the Internal Security Code, the National Council for Private Security Activities is responsible for private security activities, namely:
- private investigations (private detective, private research officer)
- airport security
- protection of ships at sea
- human surveillance or surveillance by electronic security or guarding systems
- transport of funds
- maintenance and management of automatic teller machines (ATMs)
- dog officer
- physical protection of people
- video protection operator
Funding of the National Council for Private Security Activities
CNAPS is funded in part by public subsidies and in part by professionals in private security activities.
A rate of 0.4% on the amount excluding tax of the sales of services is affixed at the bottom of each invoice. It was originally 0.5% and then increased to 0.45% in 2015 and 0.4% in 2016.
Tax is collected like VAT.
CNAPS missions
According to Article L632-1 of the Internal Security Code, the National Council for Private Security Activities is now responsible for:
- an administrative police mission: approvals, authorizations and professional cards are issued by it (as well as suspensions and withdrawals)
- a disciplinary mission: in charge of the respect by the professions of the code of ethics of private security activities and of which he is the editor
- a mission of advice and assistance to the profession
All private security activities represent 6,000 companies, 160,000 people over 5 billion euros in turnover.
The share of private detective agencies in its figures is minimal, as it is estimated that there are around a thousand private investigation professionals in France.
It is possible to verify that a company or a person has their authorization to exercise thanks to the DRACAR service set up by the CNAPS.
If you do not find a professional in this file, we invite you to contact him for you.
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