Monday 14th May 2012 – 15.43
As mentioned already today North Court Investigations attended the Home Affairs Committee seminar in London. Present was Paul Woolwich who discussed the forthcoming television documentary, Watching the Detectives, which is being shown tonight on Channel 4 at 8.00pm.
Private detectives, together with the investigation industry, have been in the public eye for sometime now, since the revelations of the phone hacking scandal and the closing of the national Sunday tabloid the News of the World.
Mr Woolwich explained at the seminar today that tonights documentary is focused around two private investigation companies who were approached by a fictitious company requesting personal information. Both of the companies they approached were able to provide the required information which, Mr Woolwich said contained personal phone records and personal banking information.
Whilst there are companies out there that will provide this information, we at North Court Investigations are concerned that the documentary will tarnish our industry and bring it into dispute even more than it has already been. The phone hacking scandal highlighted the issues, but those involved within the scandal were just a tiny minority. It is estimated that there are some 10,000 private investigators working in the UK, and we believe 95% of those are acting within the law.
The industry does need some form of regulation now, not by 2020 as was suggested at the seminar attended today. The majority of private investigators are professionals and those who belong to one of the trade associations, such as the ABI, are proving that that they have nothing to hide and welcome regulation of the industry.
This evenings documentary, will we fear, focus only on the negative within the industry which we believe is wrong. We fully appreciate rouge investigators should not be allowed to work within the industry but it would also help the industry, as whole, if the program was to also highlight the positive side of the industry, which by far out weigh all the negatives.
Watching the Detectives Channel 4 tonight at 8.00pm.
North Court Investigations today attended a Home Affairs Committee seminar at the Boothroyd Room, Portculiss House in Central London. The seminar was opened by the Chairman of the Select Committee Keith Vaz MP, the key speaker was the ex Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas CBE, also in attendance were two individuals who commented on their experiences of being investigated by private detectives.
Also present was Paul Woolwich who was discussing a Channel 4 documentry that is being shown tonight, Watching the Detectives. He explained how the show centres around two particular private investigation companies who were supplying private data to the reporters of the show. The companies who were involved were discussed at today’s seminar, Mr Woolwich explained to those present how the investigation companies were approached and how easy it was for these companies to provide what was asked for.
The general consensus is that the investigation industry is in need of some form of licensing or regulation, however, what is unclear is how this should be implemented. Present at the seminar was the President of the Association of British Investigators who explained to the committee the thoughts of the association and explained that they were fully supportive of regulation. Also present were various private investigators who also stood up and offered their own feelings on how the industry should be regulated.
We as a company hope that the Select Committee take on board what was said and don’t rush in to regulating the industry without considering the professional, law abiding companies that currently operate. It was suggested at the seminar that the rogue investigators within the industry only account for 3% of those operating in the UK. We fully support regulation and look forward to the committees report which will be produced at the end of July this year.
North Court Investigations Oxford office has fully trained surveillance operatives and private investigators who are able to discreetly follow the movements of somebody throughout the City and surrounding areas. Our surveillance operatives have the use of covert body worn cameras to ensure wherever the subject goes we are able to capture the movements on camera. All footage obtained is also time and date stamped, which is imperative if the evidence is to be used in a court of law.
Oxford is known as a City of cyclists, therefore we have to be sure we have a good selections of push bikes to use as we are very often instructed to undertake surveillance by push bike. Lots of people travel around Oxford by cycle so we have to be ready act when called upon.
In addition to the covert body worn equipment and push bikes we also have the use of fully kitted out surveillance vehicles, the vehicles contain hidden cameras all around the vehicle ensuring we have full coverage. The surveillance vehicles are ideal for deploying for static surveillance purposes, this could be where we are instructed to observe the comings and goings at a certain property or place of work.
Our Private Detectives have an excellent knowledge of Oxford City and surrounding areas which really does help when covertly following a subject, whether it be by car, motorbike or push bike.
When booking surveillance a minimum of 4 hours must be booked at any one time and we always recommend using a minimum of two agents. By using a minimum of 2 agents, this helps reduce the risks of either losing contact with the subject in traffic and the subject becoming aware they he/she is being followed.
We not only cover Oxford for surveillance, we have offices throughout the UK and have the capability and operatives to undertake surveillance anywhere in the UK.
For more information give our Oxford office a call on 01865 389941.
12.20pm Friday 11 May 2012
Rebekah Brooks is this morning giving evidence at the Leveson Inquiry. Brooks has confirmed David Cameron the Prime Minister contacted and offered her his support. She said the message from the Prime Minister was “along the lines” of “keep your head up”.
The private detective at the centre of the phone hacking scandal is denying that he is protecting News International by disputing an Order to expose who from the News of the World instructed him to access voicemails.
Glenn Mulcaire said any claim was ‘completely wrong’ that he is defending his former employer. A three day hearing started at the supreme court in London on Tuesday 8th May.
The private investigator is challenging a Court Order to explain which person at the News of the World instructed him to hack Nicola Phillips phone, who is the former PR consultant to Max Clifford.
Mulcaire released a statement just prior to the supreme court hearing on Tuesday, he said ‘This appeal is being heard because I have been advised by my legal team from the outset that I should not have to give potential incriminating answers to questions asked of me in the phone hacking cases in the High Court. I bring it for no other reason.
‘All the steps taken by my legal team in respect of the civil claims against me are to protect my legitimate legal interests. Any suggestion that I am bringing this appeal, or defending the civil claims, to protect the company I used to work for, or anyone at that company, would be completely wrong.
Counsel for the private detective, Gavin Millar QC informed five senior law lords at the supreme court of the following, ‘the decision to pursue this appeal is Mr Mulcaire’s and his alone’.
It would appear the phone hacking scandal is far from over, what with the Leveson inquiry ongoing and the challenge by Mulcaire, it looks as if this is going to be in the news for some time to come.
The sooner some sort of regulation is put in place for private detectives in the UK the better it will be for the industry as a whole.