You’re a guy; you’re feeling low. Maybe things are rough at work; maybe things are rough at home.

You meet a woman unexpectedly. You like to chat; she smiles, and that lifts your mood. You’re not looking for anything but you haven’t felt like this for years. She gives you her mobile number; she smiles again, looking at you in that way. She goes.

You feel flattered, you feel tempted and, just maybe, you call her.

And that’s it. You’ve just fallen into the ‘honey trap’!

Your mobile number is on her phone; only it isn’t her phone, it belongs to the private investigation agency that has just set you up.

They tell your wife that you did respond, that you called the woman, that she was right. Your relationship hits the ground; she files for divorce, both of you lose much that you have worked for as your capital dissolves into legal fees. Your kids, if you have them, it doesn’t matter what age, are devastated.

And what did you do? You made a phone call.

Of course it could have been the other way round. You could have set the honey trap for your wife or partner. She’s maybe in her middle years; she’s been acting – well different. You see the ad from the PI company, “Do you need to be sure about your partner?”, says the headline. You have doubts, you need to be sure, you phone, they’re convincing.

They set up a young man; good looking, fun, not burdened by the responsibility of middle age and family. By design, they meet. He smiles, she’s flattered. He gives her his number – she calls. The PI company calls you. She fell for it; you’re right; you can’t trust her.

It’s called a ‘honey trap’. It doesn’t matter whether it’s you, or your wife or a partner.

At North Court PI we don’t take that sort of business and we certainly don’t endorse it. But many PI companies do.

In fact it’s a growing trend in our industry; not just to check whether people are being unfaithful but to test whether they could be tempted to be unfaithful.

At North Court PI we do a lot of marital work; and we’re proud of it.

Finding out that you have been ‘cuckolded’, as they used to call it; that your partner has been lying to you, has been as intimate with someone else as they were with you, is, with the exception of losing a child, the most intense emotional hurt that a person can feel.

If you have evidence, or even strong feelings, that this has happened in your life then you have every moral right to have their movements investigated and North Court PI will do that for you – professionally, discretely and, of course, hoping that we do not prove you are right.

As to setting someone up with a honey trap? No, that goes against every fibre in our moral code.

It just doesn’t feel right to us.

But we would like to know what you think; so please do respond.

Honey traps: a useful relationship tool for the world? Or something rather sick in a sad society?

We’ve all become used to the threat to our computers from viruses, trojans, phishing and hacking. Whatever size organisation, we will have protected our systems with at least the basic firewalls and virus protection.

But how many individuals and businesses have protected themselves from the potentially greater threat of invasive physical bugging?

Just some of the equipment used to check for covert devices

Today, knowledge means money and power, and intellectual properties are the assets that really generate our profits. From the identity of customers to the plans for new products and processes, your competitors want to know what you’re up to and many will pay good money to find out.

There is little point in protecting what we send out of our organisation, whether to the physical or cyber world, if the ‘enemy’ has been listening in to our planning meetings or intercepting our internal communications.

And it’s not just the risk of a covert raid to plant eavesdropping bugs, or a disgruntled employee in the pay of your rivals. The modern, state of the art eavesdropping devices can be minute and externally deployed, while still giving exceptional clarity.

Sweeping premises for threats takes time, specialist equipment and experience. Even though many of the more easily sourced bugs lack sophistication and can be discovered and deactivated fairly swiftly; technology is putting new and ever more devious equipment on the market every day. For Technical Surveillance and Countermeasures (TSCM) specialists, ‘debuggers’, that means continual investment in new sweeping and detection electronics and the training to use them proficiently.

Infinity transmitters using the mobile phone networks can be secreted in office equipment, electrical circuits, furniture – anywhere, and activated by a phone call from anywhere in the world. Often they’re disguised as simple three pin plug adaptors or gang sockets, the sort of everyday item we would barely notice.

Surveillance cameras can be bought masquerading as air fresheners, clocks, smoke detectors and even boxes of tissues. Linked to 3G transmission, sometimes voice or movement activated, the detail of discussions, documents, prototype images and other business critical property can be in the hands of the competition before you’ve finished absorbing it yourself.

So what can companies do to protect themselves? Well there are the obvious housekeeping and security precautions. Are any staff members acting strangely, maybe visiting parts of the premises they wouldn’t normally be in? Do you have rigorous procedures for admitting visitors, especially those claiming to be from suppliers and utility providers? Are your staff aware that this is not the stuff of film and fiction but, sadly, an every day problems costing innocent business millions, and have they been trained to look for the signs?

Perhaps a good way to start would be to appoint one senior member of staff to be responsible, if you don’t already have a head of security. Then you could arrange a consultation by a specialist company to advise on workable protection and initial sweeps for suspicious activity.

All rooms and premises have electronic ‘footprints’, such as the normal radio frequency (rf) output from printers, computers and machinery of all types. These can be mapped and checked, with any variations over time or sudden spikes investigated for sources of threat. This is where access to specialist knowledge and experience pays dividends.

It only takes one serious loss of information to lose customers, market opportunities and industry credibility; and with a world hungry for secrets and a media ravenous for stories, it pays to be vigilant against the spies.

So whatever you do, don’t let the ‘buggers’ get you down.

(Police believe Badrish Dutt shot Geeta Sharma (above) before killing himself)

Private investigators, who have no legal status in India or the UK – and only very loose, state-specific status in the US and elsewhere – have been struggling to maintain the validity of their profession in light of recent state moves to deregulate the industry. Despite this, the Association of Private Detectives and Investigators – which claims to act as a regulatory body for over 120 members – asserts that “Policemen do need the help of private detectives…whenever they approach us, we have helped them.”

Senior police officials deny any formal links between the government-supported police service and the private detective industry. “We don’t need the services of private detectives in most investigations,” quoted a police representative. “In India, private investigators have not been given a legal status, so we cannot take their help.”

Some suggest that the murder of Sharma and suicide of Dutt is spurring the police to formalise a policy of avoiding private investigation services. In 2006, ‘cyber-expert’ Anurag Singh – a self-professed private investigator – was trialled after overstepping his wire-tapping duties while on hire as a police ‘consultant’. The case – which was well-publicised in India – renewed public interest in the activities and affiliations of the police force as a whole.

The individual case of Geeta Sharma and Badrish Dutt is already succumbing to a frenzy of public conjecture and guesswork. While this baseless speculation devolves into precise analysis of the victims’ every purported movement, there are real questions that need to be answered. What precisely is the relationship between the state police and private consultancies? And how can co-conducted investigations improve formality, transparency and openness?

Author: Matt Thomas

£240,000 set aside by police for private detectives to deal with Operation Yewtree allegations

Operation Yewtree has been in the news constantly over the last few weeks, starting with the Jimmy Saville scandal, and escalating to include suspects such as Rolf Harris and Jim Davidson. Police have admitted that there has been an overwhelming response from the public, including hundreds of new allegations, which they simply do not have the resources to deal with. Due to an increase in people stepping forward to speak up, the Metropolitan Police have been given £240,000 to hire private detectives, in an effort to deal with these new allegations.

Despite Operation Yewtree having around 70 of their own detectives involved, it seems as though the pressure of such high profile cases has become a bit too much for the Met. So far, there are several ‘celebrities’ involved, named to the public as Jimmy Saville, Gary Glitter, Rolf Harris, Jim Davidson, Dave Lee Travis and Freddie Starr. All have denied the allegations made against them, which span back as far as the 1950s. The Met detectives have been travelling the World, interviewing those who have made allegations on any of those involved in the Operation Yewtree scandal, and this has stretched them to breaking point.

By hiring in private detectives, they will be able to interview more of the victims and witnesses, making sure that no stone is left unturned. Every single one of these contract private detectives have experience in dealing with child, or adult, sexual offences, to ensure that the cases remain sensitive in nature. Although initially on three month contracts, it is thought that the hired help could stay for longer, especially if investigation progress begins to speed up.

Just one private detective can make a big difference on a case like this, as they may discover important information, which could move the whole operation forward. When working on a case that stretches back 60 odd years, it is important that every witness and victim is interviewed properly, instead of being rushed due to short staffing. One witness could have information that would completely change the investigation, and it is essential that each and every allegation is dealt with in the right way.

Although Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, and Sir Bernard Howan-Howe, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, seem unhappy that they have had to hire in short term private detective help, it may well be one of the best decisions they have made for Operation Yewtree, so far.

Private Investigators, North Court Investigations launches Alan Thompson Racing sponsorship.

North Court Investigations, one of the UK’s leading firms of private investigators, has agreed an exciting new sponsorship deal with Alan Thompson Racing. The company will back the team throughout the 2013 Kumho BMW Championship, which takes place at some of the country’s top motor racing circuits.

The partnership made its début at round one of the series at Donington Park, Leicestershire the 6th of April. Thompson marked the start of the season by driving his BMW E36 328 Sport to third place in Class C in race one and then climbing to second in class in race two.

Matt Thomas, Managing Director of North Court Investigations, was delighted with the results and is looking forward to seeing Alan Thompson Racing achieve more success in the next seven rounds of the championship.

“We are pleased to support Thompson and his team for the coming season,” he said. “The team has already had a great start to the season and everyone at North Court Investigations would like to wish him luck for the remaining races.”

The Kumho BMW Championship, organised by the BMW Racing Drivers Club and the British Automobile Racing Club, is one of the UK’s leading single make motor sport series and attracts some of the most dedicated privateer teams in the country. It has grown beyond all recognition since its launch in 1987 and now includes 17 races spread over eight meetings across the country.

Thompson, who drives a modified 1996 BMW E36 328 Sport, recognises it is a tough series to compete in. However, he is confident the sponsorship deal will help Alan Thompson Racing to enjoy a notable 2013 campaign.

“I’m very pleased to be working with North Court Investigations this season, racing in the Kumho BMW Championship,” he said. “Having raced in rounds one and two at Donington Park recently, coming third and second in class, I’m aiming for further success with North Court Investigations on board.”

The Alan Thompson Racing team will be back in action at Snetterton on May 11th and 12th, with rounds of the 2013 championship also scheduled for Oulton Park (May 27th), Thruxton (June 1st and 2nd), Croft (July 6th and 7th), Rockingham (August 10th and 11th), Brands Hatch (September 21st and 22nd) and the decisive races at Pembrey on October 19th and 20th.

Thomas is excited to see what else Alan Thompson Racing can achieve this season with the backing of the private detective agency. He added: “The partnership is mutually beneficial by providing Alan and his team financial support whilst at the same time promoting North Court Investigations.”

As one of the UK’s leading firms of private investigators, North Court Investigations has established an excellent reputation in the field and its managing director is a prominent figure in the industry, as a full member of the Association of British Investigators and previous Vice-Chairman of the World Association of Professional Investigators. It has offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, London, Manchester, Oxford, Portsmouth and Reading, so can supply the services of fully-trained private detectives across the UK and even overseas.

It has a wealth of experience in the corporate sector and can count FTSE 100 companies, law firms and SMEs among its clients, along with members of the public. As every case is different, the service is bespoke and customers can expect a professional, courteous approach backed by technical expertise.

North Court Investigations is set up to offer the full range of services private detectives are known for, including marital and corporate surveillance using mobile teams and hi-tech equipment. As its staff are trained to the highest standards, clients can be assured the operations will be carried out in a discreet fashion.

Among the other services it provides are; professional background checks, tracing missing persons, polygraph examinations and personal injury investigations. The company also has significant experience in complex financial matters, such as litigation support, due diligence and asset tracing.

The modern reliance on computers means good private investigators need an in-depth understanding of technical matters. North Court Investigations has a high level of expertise in areas such as de-bugging, along with a full computer forensics capability. Its staff can carry out detailed examinations of IT equipment to find out what it has been used for and subsequently provide expert testimony.

Whether you are a member of the public with a small job for a private detective or a corporation that needs a major investigation conducted, North Court Investigations has the ability to help. The company is open 24 hours a day, seven day a week and whatever time you get in touch, there will be a real person available to deal with your enquiry.

To find out more about how North Court Investigations could help you, call 0800 567 7006 or visit www.privateinvestigatoruk.com.

Three private detectives have denied that they posed as senior executives of West Ham United to snoop on confidential documents on behalf of Tottenham Hotspurs Football Club.

Tottenham Hotspurs hired one of the UK’s leading firm of accountants, PFK, in 2011 at the time when both football clubs were bidding to secure a deal to make the Olympic Stadium their home ground.

Howard Hill, 58, Lee Stewart, 39, and Richard Forrest,30, have appeared at Southwark Crown Court. All three men deny charges against them of committing fraud by false representation between January 1st through to August 30th 2011.

During the 30 minute hearing the private detectives spoke only to confirm their names and to enter ‘not guilty’ pleas.

It is alleged that Howard Hill, who was at the time a senior investigator for PFK, entrusted Lee Stewart and Richard Forrest to obtain confidential information through fraudulent and illegal means.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC advised that the case will not go to trial until January 2014. The three accused were all released on unconditional bail until the trial starts, which is expected to last 6 – 8 weeks.

Howard Hill, who was a partner for PFK has since resigned from the company. In addition the company has since merged with another leading accountancy firm BDO.

It is also alleged that during the battle for the Olympic Stadium, Howard Hill and PFK illegally obtained the personal phone records of the Vice Chairman of West Ham Football Club, Karen Brady.

Tottenham Hotspurs have since pulled out of the running for the stadium and West Ham have since been successful in becoming the anchor tenants of the Stadium. They will play their home games there from August 2016.

The  stadium capacity will be reduced and will still have a running track which mean athletic events can still be held there. It is thought that the running track will be hid under a retractable seating system whilst being used for football matches.

Most people never contemplate hiring private investigators to help discover the truth. If you suspect your husband/wife or partner is being unfaithful but you do not want to ask them outright then hiring a private detective may be the way forward for you.

Before hiring a firm of private detectives make sure you undertake your own research before going ahead and instructing them.

If you Google ‘private investigators’ or ‘private detectives you will soon find out there are lots of companies offering investigative services. Do not just pick a company who is coming top of Google or a company who is paying to be in the sponsored links area of Google.

Take your time finding out about who the company are, there are important things you should look out for before making, what in reality, is a very important decision. Look out for the following:

• Are they Notified with the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998?
• Do they advertise a real postal address, not just a Po Box address?
• Do they advertise a landline number and not just a mobile number?
• Do they belong to a recognised association such as the Association of British Investigators?
• Do they accept payment by credit or debit card?
• How long have they been in business?
• Do they allow visits to their actual offices?
• Agree a price before instructing them!
• Ask for a receipt/invoice!
• Ensure they will not debit your card further without your prior consent!

During the past few years private detective companies have been getting a lot of publicity due to the phone hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry. It has never been more important to ensure that when you hire a firm of private detectives you are hiring the right company for your needs.

By checking the above you will be giving yourself the best possible chance of hiring the right company for you. One of the most important elements is to ensure the company is associated to a recognised association. For instance, to be a member of the Association of British Investigators the member has to go through a vigorous vetting procedure which includes a criminal record check.

Hiring a professional firm of private detectives can be a very emotional decision to make, by making a few investigations yourself beforehand will ensure you instruct the right company for you.

The licensing of private investigators will be happening, it is thought within the next couple of years. When this finally does happen it will make the process of hiring a professional firm of investigators a lot more straight forward, until such time however, ensure you are happy with the company you choose before you pay them any money by doing your own research first.

The Spanish newspaper El Confidencial has reported that Josep Guardiola hired private investigators during his time in charge of Barcelona.

The surveillance was reported to have taken place on star players of his squad from 2008 up until he left Camp Nou in 2012.

It is understood that the players were put under surveillance so he could monitor their movements whilst away from the training ground. It would appear he was particularly interested in gaining evidence relating to where the players were socialising in the evenings, who they were mixing with and how long they were staying out for.

Some of the players thought to have been put under surveillance during this time were  Samuel Eto, Ronaldinho and Deco. These players are no longer with the club.

It is also understood that Gerard Pique was also put under observation when he started dating the international pop star Shakira, who have since gone on to have a baby together.

Hiring the private investigators didn’t seem to have an effect on the players, who during their time with Pep Guardiola being in charge went on to become the greatest football team in the world.

During his time in charge at Camp Nou, Guardiola went on to win 13 trophies, which included 2 Champions League. His winning ratio at the club is phenomenal, in total he was in charge of 247 games in all competitions, losing only 21 game and winning 175. Thats a very impressive winning percentage of 72.3%.

Some people may think that spying on his players is underhand and shouldn’t have been done. However, by understanding what they were doing meant that he was able to man manage the players in a way he thought he would get the best out of each player.

His record speaks for itself and its a record that may well never be broken.

With Valentines Day just around the corner many people are perhaps looking forward to a romantic meal during the evening or perhaps a night away in cosy hotel somewhere. Most men will be buying overpriced flowers for their wives or partners and card with a soppy poem in, which in usual circumstances, they would never dream of saying to their loved one.

Private detectives do see a rise in enquiries during the run up to Valentines days, we find mainly from female clients, who suspect their husband/partner will be seeing someone else during the day, whilst at work, before whisking them off somewhere during the evening

We are also finding that clients are having concerns regarding their partners after Valentines Day, we have been getting lots of enquiries from worried spouses saying that their loved one is going away on business the day after Valentine or away with their friends to celebrate a birthday of a friend, or indeed would you believe a friend of a friend!

You would not believe the excuses we have been given by concerned clients, it would seem that those who plan to celebrate Valentines Day, with more than the usual one person, really do struggle to come up with a plausible excuse.

If you suspect you have been given some sort of excuse by the person you love, for not being able to be with you on this so called ‘big day’ then we are guessing you may need the help of a company, who finds this day we call ‘Valentines’ a complete waste of time.

North Court Investigations are able to track the movements of your partner by using our team of highly skilled and trained surveillance operatives, who by the way, also think Valentines Day is just a money making scam for florists, card shops and hotels.

If he or she is seen with someone who you think they should not be with then we will show you. You will be provided with picture and video evidence as well as a written report.

Although this is a lighthearted look at our surveillance service, we would like to reassure you, the reader, that we take all enquiries and instructions very seriously.

If however, you enjoy the day we would like to wish you a romantic and enjoyable day/evening.

Europol have been for the last 18 months investigating widespread match fixing in World Cup and European Qualifier football matches. In addition to these investigations they have also been looking into two Champions League games and ‘several top football games played in European leagues’.

Rob Wainwright, head of Europol, said ‘This is the work of a suspected organised crime syndicate based in Asia and operational with criminal networks across Europe’. He went on to say that Europol had ‘Uncovered an extensive criminal network’.

Some 680 matches in 30 countries were investigated together with over 13,000 emails being inspected. So far there have been 50 arrests made and up to 425 suspects have been identified.

The findings of the Europol investigation is clearly damaging for football, not just in the UK and around Europe  but throughout the world. It has today been suggested that one of the Champions League game’s that was investigated was a game in the UK involving Liverpool Football Club.

It has not been confirmed that it was a Liverpool game that was involved, Rob Wainwright has said ‘ongoing judicial proceedings’ were in place and he did not comment any further.

Further information can be found on the Europol website relating to their findings.

Both Uefa and the Football Association were not aware the investigations were ongoing, however they have both said that they will co-operate with Europol if and when required.

Bets have been made by the criminals totalling €16,000,000 on fixed matches which resulted in returned profits of €8,000,000.

Payments of up to €2,000,000 have been made to those involved in the criminal scheme with the single biggest payment to one individual being €140,000.

It is suggested that these findings from the Europol investigation are just the tip of the iceberg concerning betting scandals within football matches throughout the world.

This is clearly an issue that is not going to go away anytime soon, it can only be hoped that these findings have alerted the necessary authorities and hope they act accordingly to help put a stop to further match fixing.

Further information can be found on the Europol website detailing their findings.