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Writer's pictureSIASS

Is it Legal to Hire a Private Investigator in the UK?

Updated: Jul 12, 2023

Due to some recent high profile media cases, featuring some unethical private investigators, we are often asked is it legal to hire a private investigator? Or, "Are private investigation services legal in the UK?"

The answer is YES


Clients seek the services of private investigators when they need to make an informed decision about an aspect of their personal or professional lives.


Despite the media coverage of unethical and illegal practices, conducted by some in the private intelligence industry, professional private investigators understand the importance of knowing and adhering to legal processes.


As with many professions, the TV and Hollywood versions of the day to day work, is rarely accurate! We don't work out of a dark and smoky office, hidden away in a back street for example! There are many services that combine to form a deliverable private investigation strategy that meets a client's needs. Most importantly, all aspects of the investigation strategy MUST be conducted in a lawful manner. Providing a client with illegally obtained information, will cause issues for both the client and the private investigator.


As we have repeatedly said, clients usually contact a private intelligence service provider, because they have identified a gap in their knowledge (or want to check that they have all of the information they need).


Research

A large amount of our day to day case work is conducting desk-based research. Once briefed by a client regarding what they already know/suspect and what they want to know in order to make an informed decision, SIASS investigators draft an investigation strategy.

There is a wide variety of public records and open source intelligence (OSINT) that private investigators rely on to gather data. We trawl relevant databases, research tools, contacts and media to gather relevant details. Our experienced researchers know, where to look and how

to obtain the level of detail required to service the client's requirements. This information helps private investigators to piece together a full picture of an individual, group or organisation and a client can then check what information tallies with what they already know.


What We Don't Do! - So Don't Ask

Phone/Computer Hacking

It is illegal to hack someone's phone or computer. If the phone or computing device does not belong to our client, it is not legal nor ethical to record activity and conversations conducted on that device.

There are of course unethical private investigation services who will offer to 'hack' a target phone or computer. They are breaking the law providing this service and YOU are breaking the law by knowingly paying them to conduct this service.


Trespassing

SIASS will never enter a private home, workspace, work site, storage area or other area without the express permission of the owner. If a building or piece of land is not accessible, legitimately by a member of the public, that applies to private investigators.


Illegal Surveillance

We will undertake covert surveillance of a target location or individual if that can be done in a public space. It is not legal (unless a criminal act is suspected) to use a covert method of surveillance in a space where an individual should reasonably expect not to be observed publicly. (For example in their own home).

(There are some instances where a covert method of surveillance can be undertaken, for example if elder abuse is suspected in a care facility. We can discuss the ethical and legal issues of this if required.)


a dark and smoky office
private investigator office stereotype



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