The Key to a Successful Covert Investigation Is Using Someone You Can Trust

Covert investigations are tricky. That’s why you need to choose an investigator that you can trust.

The Mayfair Brothel

Sometimes, property litigation solicitors require evidence that only surveillance operations can gather. At the risk of being salacious, we were asked to investigate a high-value London residency that was identified as a brothel. Being former police detectives we understand the law and the relevant offences constituting running a property as a brothel, along with primary evidence that proves the commission of the offence.

This is the case of operation Mayfair, a £5 million property divided into flats with one female using the premises for the purpose of prostitution. A simple, cost-effective investigation identified information on the Internet, but that information did not confirm sexual activity was taking place at the premises.

A recorded pre-text call was made for an appointment, explicit sexual conversations took place between our officer and the female on the phone. The appointment was made, at which point the officer was only given the name of the road to attend and then make a further call for the property address. The officer had requested specific garments to be worn which would only be worn for such sexual activity.

The officer attended the street at the given time, phoned the number and was given the full address including the flat number of the premises. Using two covert cameras the officer rang went to the address given.

A mid-20s female answered the door, wearing the central garments as requested and our officer engaged the female in conversation, once again confirming costs for services and details. We used this information to prove the commission of the offence and the fact that the premises were being used for the purpose of prostitution.

Under a prearranged pretext, the officer left the premises having covertly recorded all of the information.

Later that afternoon the report and supporting video evidence was sent to the property litigation solicitor, who then had all of the evidence he needed to advise his client and evict the female renting the premises.

Allegations of Bullying

Often there is the need for an impartial investigation to be conducted especially whenever complaints of harassment and discrimination are made within the workplace.

One such complaint from a public-sector service in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, involved an allegation of bullying by a senior member of a team. As a result of which, we conducted interviews with all relevant parties, identified other supporting witnesses and used other means of securing and preserving evidence such as computer data files and written document records in the course of the investigation.

We put all this together in one simple easy to understand file for the HR department to progress and deal with the issue and allegation of harassment internally.

Christmas Party Harassment

In another case, following a Christmas festive party, our clients based in Worcester were aware of a potential indecent assault involving a female employee and two male employees had been fighting and one assaulted another as a result of the allegation of indecent assault.

Whilst many people had been present at the event, large amounts of alcohol consumed by many attendees and there were conflicting accounts of what had occurred, the clients decided there was a requirement to conduct a proper professional investigation in an impartial manner and therefore instructed the services of Expert Investigations.

Interview teams (two former Police Detectives from Expert Investigations liaised with the client and conducted detailed interviews with all relevant parties both witnesses and suspects. We visited the location of the alleged assault and gathered further supporting evidence such as CCTV footage. From this, we could put together a full report, confirming and disproving the relevant allegations. We handed this report to the HR department who then progressed to the disciplinary stage to deal with all parties concerned. In consultation with the victims they themselves decided to make no formal complaint to the Police.

Regardless of how you choose to proceed, we can provide a full range of ways to assist you and gather the evidence that you need to make the best possible decision going forward. That’s why we’re the experts.

Criminal Damage

In one recent case, criminal damage caused the closure of a production track in Derbyshire. The company were losing time and money. In addition, the companies’ service levels were not being met due to the breakdown in the track.

We inserted an undercover officer via a recruitment agency who worked on the damaged track, alongside the dishonest employee.

During the weeks that the officer was working on the production line, he was able to identify the militants who were causing the damage, as well as other unacceptable issues, such as selling controlled illegal drugs, selling stolen goods and pornography. We produced enough evidence for the in-house legal team.

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