From: Jenny Randles <nufon@currantbun.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 16:58:40 +0100
Fwd Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 14:25:37 -0400
Subject: UpDate: UFOIN - Code of Practice



UFO INVESTIGATORS NETWORK.


CODE OF PRACTICE FOR UFO INVESTIGATORS (1999).

INTRODUCTION

The code of practice (CoP) was created by a series of meetings
across the UK during l981/2, during which many then established
UFO groups met to self determine standards of ethics, conduct
and responsibility. It advises and sometimes directs upon
appropriate actions when dealing with witnesses, the
authorities, other Ufologists and the public. This voluntarily
agreed code helps to preserve common sense, moral behaviour and
responsible principles within a field too often riddled with
self interest and lack of concern for those effected by UFO
activity.

The CoP was originally drafted by the following organisations -
UFO Investigators Network (UFOIN), British UFO Research
Association (BUFORA), Northern UFO Network (NUFON), Manchester
UFO Research Association (MUFORA now called NARO), plus several
new defunct associations - NUFOIS (Nottingham), SCUFORI
(Swindon) and PROBE (Bristol). Contact UK also participated in
some stages of the discussions. The code was offered to the
community at home and abroad and was accepted in modified form
by some other bodies including the paranormal research team
ASSAP.

The code has since been updated on several occasions by both
UFOIN and BUFORA. The version below was agreed by the founder
members of the new UFOIN in l999. It forms a binding principle
of that team's activities. All UFOIN investigators must sign
acceptance and defend themselves against any accusations brought
to the attention of UFOIN that they are in serious breach of its
clauses. Consequences up to and including dismissal from the
team may follow.



The Code of Practice for UFO Investigators

General:


A. The CoP is intended to offer guidance, advice and where
appropriate mandatory actions to preserve rational, objective
and ethical investigation of UFOs and witnesses.

B. The version that follows is agreed by UFOIN to be a binding
set of principles for all team members to follow.

C. The CoP should be adhered to wherever possible by all UFOIN
investigators. Any person may bring to the attention of UFOIN an
alleged breach of this code by one of its team. Both the
complainant and UFOIN member accused will have the opportunity
to offer a statement to all other UFOIN members, who shall
decide by majority vote on any action deemed necessary.


Definitions.

Except where specifically stated, words shall have the commonly
accepted meaning, all cases of doubt to be resolved by
reference to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.

(a) Reference to the singular includes the plural, and vice
versa.

(b) Must indicates mandatory action on the part of the
investigator.

(c) Shall or should indicates strongly recommended (but
discretionary) action by the investigator.

(d) Desirable indicates preferable action by the investigator.

(e) An original report is the report made and filed by the
investigator and may contain confidential material. An edited
report is one cleared for general distribution and publication,
and may have been edited or rewritten. It must not contain any
confidential material.

(f) Confidential information shall mean information not to be
disclosed according to all existing laws of the land regarding
personal information and its publication, as well as material
deemed confidential by clauses of the CoP itself.

(g) Publication includes UFO and other periodicals, newspapers,
circulars, news media, books, and electronic media (e-mail, web
sites, etc.)




Code of Practice.

This code of practice consists of three sections:
Responsibility to the witness;
Responsibility to the public; and
Responsibility to Ufology.


1: - Responsibility to the Witness.

1.1 The identity of the witness to a UFO event must be deemed
confidential and can not be disclosed - especially to media
sources such as TV and newspapers - unless specific and recent
consent is obtained from the witness Confidential material
includes the name of the witness, home address or place of work,
telephone numbers, or other data that may allow the identity of
the witness  to be ascertained.

1.2 The witness should be councilled about the potential
consequences of the public disclosure of details such as those
above. Their decision on disclosure or non disclosure must be
regarded as binding.

1.3 Insofar as is practical, all interviews shall be by prior
appointment. If a witness declines immediate assistance via an
interview or appointment then their wishes must be accepted.

1.4 It is desirable that all interviews shall be conducted by
two investigators, and in the event of the witness being a woman
or minor (under 16 years of age) that one of those present is
female.

1.5 All requests by the witness (or, in the case of a minor, a
parent or other responsible person) for a third party to be
present during an interview must be honoured.

1.6 If the witness refuses to co-operate in any way, or to meet
another investigator, their decision must be accepted, the
option for further contact resting with the witness.

1.7 An investigator must not enter or attempt to enter any
private property without the permission of the owner, tenant (or
occupier) or authorised agent.

1.8 Any damage to property caused by an investigator during the
course of an investigation  (for which the investigator admits
liability) shall be made good by that investigator without the
need to be asked to do so.

1.9 Specialised techniques, or equipment unfamiliar to the
witness must not be used during the interview other than by
clearly stated consent (which should be obtained in writing).
The use of any such aid or aids shall be restricted to
interviews conducted by fully qualified practitioners with a
publicly acceptable mandate to use such methods.

1.10 The witness is entitled to be informed of the conclusions
reached by the investigation if he or she so requests.

1.11 Due consideration should always be given to the health and
welfare of the witness. If it is ever suspected this may suffer
by continued investigation work must be suspended or abandoned
forthwith.

1.12  UFOIN regards the technique of regression hypnosis to be
wholly unsuitable during the investigation of a case . It must
never be used. If a witness approaches and requests such a
method the UFOIN investigator is obligated to explain the
reasons for our decision not to employ the technique. They must
acquaint the witness with the generally accepted psychological
debate regarding its nature, possible long term effects - such
as adaptation of memory - and our absolute ban upon its use. If
the witness insists upon taking the matter further they should
be directed not to any other Ufologist but to a medically
qualified practioner. If the witness still then decides to
proceed with regression hypnosis via another source the UFOIN
investigation must be concluded.


2: - Responsibility to the public.

2.1 All investigators must co-operate fully with police and any
other official body, particularly in circumstances which may
affect national security or matters of life, death and injury to
other persons.

2.2 If, during any investigation, a situation is encountered
which is, or is liable to become, dangerous to the general
public, or result in damage to property, the investigator must
without delay notify the police or other responsible body and
take all reasonable steps to protect public and property.

2.3 Investigators are reminded that they have no special
privilege and may be required to disclose confidential
information to a court of law. If such matters of jurisprudence
intervene other clauses of the CoP are temporarily superceded.

2.4 UFOIN investigators must at all times weigh their
responsibility to inform the public about UFOs against the often
different requirements of the news media. The issuing of
unsupported statements, expression of theories lacking in
evidence and non objective speculations about cases should be
refrained from. If an opportunity is taken to offer a rational
perspective on the phenomenon via a public forum it should
always be recalled that you are representing both UFOIN and
scientific UFO research. You must strive to do so in a
responsible manner.

2.5 The credibility of a witness or colleague should not be
impugned in public unless the evidence and community interest
provides an overwhelming mandate. You should always be prepared
to justify this act, if necessary, to the rest of the UFOIN
team.


3: - Responsibility to Ufology.

3.1 The free flow of information shall not be restricted for
personal gain. UFOIN investigators will inform colleagues of
their work in progress and allow its use upon publication by
other responsible members of the UFO community. This is subject
to the provision that these other parties reciprocate with due
credit to source. UFOIN members may use information for their
own purposes, e.g. to write articles and books, but must not
inappropriately delay release of information to the UFO
community to further such aims.

3.2 Full credit must always be given to colleagues and other
sources whose work you draw upon, unless they have expressly
requested not to be identified.

3.3 Interviews conducted during an investigation shall - where
practicable - be recorded on audio tape, video tape or other
recording device. However, if the use of a recorder is objected
to by the witness (or other responsible person in the case of a
minor) written documentation should be as thorough as
circumstances allow. This should also be properly transcribed as
soon as possible after the interview.

3.4  All case reports should indicate the persons present, their
status, and their relationship to the witness/witnesses during
any interviews.

3.5  Any information, confidential because of factors inherent
within this code, must not be made available in the edited
report. Only the edited report should be made available for
external use.

3.6  The identity of a witness must be regarded as confidential
and not included in the edited report unless the witness
initiates self disclosure. If any doubt persists protection of
the witness should override all other considerations. To fully
protect witnesses in sensitive occupations, investigators may
need to restrict from some parts of Ufology details of the time,
place and other circumstances surrounding the incident -
especially those that might allow the tracing of a witness who
has required non disclosure of their identity.

3.7 The first priority of any investigation must be to allow a
witness to tell their story without intervention. An
investigator should not discuss personal theories regarding the
case or the phenomenon with a witness during the course of the
initial investigation. If such details are discussed at a later
point they should be emphasised as a theory and supported with
any objective evidence available. In the report to the UFO
community personal theories regarding a witness or a case should
be clearly indicated as such and separated from the main facts
of the investigation.



Declaration of the adoption of the Code of Practice.


I, the undersigned, have read and understood the UFOIN Code of
Practice and state that :

1. I will conform to its clauses and principles when engaged in
UFO investigations or research; and

2. I understand that I may be required to give account to the
rest of the UFOIN team should a breach of the Code be alleged
for which I am held responsible.

Signature: Date:

Full name (printed):