World Association of Detectives

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The World Association of Detectives (W.A.D.) was founded in 1925. It is the International Association for Private Investigators and Security Service Organizations. The World Association of Detectives was formed as a joint venture by the combined membership of the World Association of Detectives and the International Secret Service Association. It is the oldest international association in its field.{{cite news |title=Business investigator probes direct foreign link |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2007-05/31/content_884153.htm |work=China Daily |date=31 May 2007 |accessdate=2008-10-24 }} In 1972, it had 400 members in 34 countries,{{cite book |title=Les espions |last=Gheysens |first=Roger |year=1973 |publisher=Elsevier Séquoia |isbn=978-2-8003-0004-7 |pages=216 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jbwDAAAAMAAJ&q=%22world+association+of+detectives%22 |accessdate=2008-10-24}} growing to over 700 in about 60 countries in 1997.{{cite news |title=Private Detective Harold Lipset Dies |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/23752753.html?dids=23752753:23752753&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=DEC+13%2C+1997&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Private+Detective+Harold+Lipset+Dies&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525084422/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/23752753.html?dids=23752753:23752753&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=DEC+13,+1997&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Private+Detective+Harold+Lipset+Dies&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=13 December 1997 |accessdate=2008-10-24 }} In 2020, it had nearly 1,000 members in over 80 countries.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}