What could go wrong with a private Investigation?

It is important as an established investigation agency to inform prospective clients of what can go wrong. This is usually when a prospective client wants to reduce the expense.

Private Investigation – Surveillance

Time and time again we will have a client request surveillance with one operative. Surveillance requires a minimum of two surveillance operatives unless it is a static surveillance. A static surveillance is when an operative is instructed to watch a residential premise, for example. The operative’s sole objective is to gain imagery of a person entering and exiting. There is no requirement to follow the subject of the investigation away from the address.

If there is a requirement to follow a subject away from an address, then there will be the need for a minimum of two surveillance operatives. The reason for this is that firstly, if there is only one surveillance operative, the operative watching the address will need to extract themselves from their observation point, whether that be a building or a vehicle. This may be seen by other occupants in the address that is the focus of our observations or other members of the public may observe us. The result of this is that the operative may gain exposure and awareness of their presence. The operative will then follow the subject on foot or in a vehicle. If there is only one surveillance operative, then it will be the same person or vehicle following the subject. After a couple of turns, even a surveillance unaware subject will soon realise that they are being followed or be aware of the presence of the operative or vehicle. This will either lead to a compromise or loss, resulting in the client gaining nothing and having wasted their money.

If surveillance is performed properly, then there will be a minimum of two surveillance operatives who can constantly hand over the visual of the subject, meaning it isn’t the same operative or vehicle behind the subject throughout the surveillance. This is much more covert and less likely to experience a loss or a compromise. Titan refuses all requests for one operative surveillance as it is not professional and is asking an operative to perform in a potentially dangerous situation. If an investigation agency provides one operative surveillance deployment, then they should inform the prospective client that there is a high likelihood of either a loss and/ or a compromise meaning that the objectives will not be met, and they may be wasting the service fee.

Private Investigation – Bug sweeps

This is a highly skilled and niche service which requires multiple pieces of equipment which are relatively expensive. The array of equipment is likely to include the following.

• Spectral Analysis Detection.
• Near-Field detection Receiver.
• Non-Linear Junction Detector.
• GSM Locator.
• Wi-Fi Scanner.
• Thermal Imagery,
• Lens Finder,
• Video Pole Camera.
• Forensic Light Search Kit.

If a prospective client instructs a bug sweep with a company who utilises theatrics and doesn’t have the correct training or equipment then the presence of a bug is likely to not be located meaning that the risk is still present, and the service fee has been wasted.

Private Investigation – Person Tracing

Person Tracing is generally based on a no-trace no fee basis and takes no more than 24 hours unless protracted enquiries are required. This means that if the person is not traced, you don’t pay the service fee or receive a refund in full. It is important to see this in a company’s Terms of Business or have it in writing. If not, the instruction may never be acted upon and the client is told that the trace was unsuccessful, and the service fee is not refunded.

Private Investigation – Mobile Phone Hacking

We are asked time and time again whether we are able to gain access to WhatsApp and text messages as well as social media messengers of a partner’s mobile telephone.

If this is instructed by a client without the permission of the owner/user and is performed by an investigation agency who is aware that permission has not been gained, then offences are committed by both parties and come with consequences. The array of offences committed are serious and are.

• Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
• Intent to secure unauthorised access to the contents of a computer / mobile telephone. There has to be knowledge on the part of the offender, so this would apply to the person instructing and the investigation agency, that the access is unauthorised. The offence is committed irrespective of whether access is obtained.
• Offences under sections 170 to 173 of the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Knowingly obtaining data without consent.
  • Disclosing any personal data to another person without consent.
  • Selling personal data disclosed or retained without consent.
• Section 32 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 makes the offence a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.
• Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003. 
• Is committed if you were to send a message from your partner’s phone with the intention of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another.

If an investigation agency offers this service, then this is a massive red flag and alarm bells should be ringing. Avoid, avoid, avoid at all costs!

Who do I contact for Private Investigation advice?

For further advice and information in regard to Titan’s private investigation services please feel free to speak to us for further advice and in complete confidence.

London Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations London Office 020 39046622
Birmingham Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Birmingham Office 0121 7162442
Cambridge Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Cambridge Office 01223 662022
Derby Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Derby (Head Office) 01332 504256
Leeds Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Leeds Office 0113 4574066
Leicester Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Leicester Office 0116 2436520
Nottingham Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Nottingham Office 0115 9646950
Manchester Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Office 0161 3023008
Sheffield Private Investigators – Call the Titan Investigations Sheffield Office 0114 3499400

Alternatively, you can contact us directly using our fully confidential contact form at enquiries@titaninvestigations.co.uk or chat directly using our Live Chat facility and one of our private investigations team will get right back to you.