The Xunta approves the statutes of the Galician college of private detectives

The Council of the Xunta de Galicia approved Decree 92/2026, of September 7, by which the new statutes and the change of name of the Professional College of Private Detectives of Galicia are approved, which shall now be called the Official College of Private Detectives of Galicia. The regulation was signed by the counselor of Presidency, Justice and Sports, Diego Calvo Pouso, and published in the Official Gazette of Galicia (DOG) number 180, of September 22, 2026, in section III, Other provisions. The decree entered into force the day following its publication, on September 23, 2026.

The statutory modification responds to the agreement adopted by the extraordinary general assembly of the college on May 10, 2025, which already included the name change. The Xunta verified the legality of the submitted statutes and processed their definitive approval under article 18 of Law 11/2001, of September 18, on professional colleges of the Autonomous Community of Galicia, which reserves the definitive approval of single professional colleges to the Council of the Xunta. The previous statutes had been approved by Decree 16/2010, of February 11 (DOG no. 34) and are now repealed.

The college was created by Law 1/2008, of April 17, and is constituted as a public law corporation under article 36 of the Spanish Constitution. The update is justified by the subsequent approval of Royal Legislative Decree 3/2010, of October 5, on the adaptation of regulations with the rank of law to Directive 2006/123/EC on services in the internal market, and by Law 5/2014, of April 4, on private security, which modified the regime for the exercise of the private detective profession.

New identity, headquarters and membership

The text establishes the legal nature of the entity and its identity markers:

• Name: Official College of Private Detectives of Galicia.
• Territorial scope: the Autonomous Community of Galicia.
• Headquarters: Santiago de Compostela, rúa Montero Ríos, 39, ground floor, 3.
• Treatment: Illustrious, and for the dean, Most Illustrious Lord, both with lifelong character.
• Registration in the Registry of Professional Colleges and their councils of the Autonomous Community of Galicia.

Membership in the college is mandatory to practice the profession of private detective in any of its forms when the sole or main establishment is located in Galicia. Only practicing members may use the designation “private detective”; non-practicing members must add that condition.

Governing bodies and elections

The General Assembly is the supreme body and meets ordinarily twice a year, while the Governing Board exercises the direction and organization of the college. The composition and electoral rules are as follows:

• The Governing Board consists of a dean, a vice-dean, a secretary, a treasurer, and three members.
• The term of office is four years, with indefinite reelection.
• To be a candidate, an uninterrupted seniority of 5 years is required for the dean and 2 years for the remaining positions.
• The Assembly is convened with a minimum notice of 20 days and is validly constituted in the first call with 25% of the members.
• The approval or modification of the statutes requires two-thirds of the votes cast.

Disciplinary regime

Private detectives are subject to the disciplinary authority of the college, which is exercised by the Governing Board following the instruction of the corresponding file. Offenses are classified as minor, serious, and very serious, and the schedule of sanctions includes:

• Private reprimand.
• Written warning.
• Internal public reprimand.
• Fine.
• Suspension from professional practice for a period not exceeding two years.
• Expulsion from the College.

Minor offenses prescribe after three months, serious offenses after one year, and very serious offenses after two years. Rehabilitation may be requested after six months (minor), two years (serious), four years (very serious), and five years in the case of expulsion. In the procedure, the statement of charges grants ten business days to respond, and the resolution allows for an optional appeal for reversal within a period of 30 days.

Single window and use of Galician

The college will implement a single window system so that registered members can carry out all procedures electronically and know the status of the proceedings. Through this, it will offer access to the registry of members and professional societies, the channels for claims and appeals, the data of consumer associations, and the content of the code of ethics. Article 76 establishes that the college will seek and promote the use of Galician in all its communications.

The entry into force of the new statutes closes a process started in 2025 and provides the Galician collective with an updated framework regarding registration, governance, and discipline. For private detectives practicing in Galicia, the regulation consolidates the mandatory nature of registration and the new official name of the entity.

Source: Official Gazette of Galicia (DOG), no. 180, September 22, 2026, section III, p. 49797 (official reference: CVE-DOG: zaf9a7g4-dbx9-zi78-nmx3-04x6ibmjazg6).