Frequently asked questions

Yes. Private investigation is a lawful profession in the United Kingdom. Investigations must be conducted in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and applicable common law. We work within those boundaries. No licensing regime for investigators is yet in force, so choosing an investigator sets out what to ask before you instruct anyone.

Costs vary with the nature, scope, and duration of the work. We always give a written cost estimate or fixed fee before work starts. Nothing is added without your agreement. Surveillance is typically quoted per day or half-day; cyber and OSINT work is quoted against the agreed scope. The first conversation is free. How we charge explains each fee model, deposits, and disbursements.

An investigation may produce evidence relevant to proceedings, but lawful collection does not guarantee admissibility or a particular outcome. The court or tribunal decides what it will admit and how much weight to give it. If proceedings are underway or contemplated, ask your solicitor to agree the scope, reporting, and disclosure arrangements before work begins. Privilege depends on the circumstances; instructing through a solicitor does not make every report privileged. Our guide to evidence for the family court covers what helps and what backfires in that setting.

We cannot obtain another person's private records by hacking, impersonation, or unauthorised access. Phone records, bank statements, emails, and private messages are protected by laws including the Data Protection Act 2018, the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, and unlawful access or disclosure can lead to criminal or civil liability. Records supplied with proper authority or obtained through a lawful disclosure process are different. A solicitor can advise on disclosure routes; our guide on phone records and messages explains how.

Some enquiries can be conducted discreetly, but we cannot guarantee that the person will remain unaware. We assess necessity, proportionality, data protection, and the risk of harassment before agreeing covert work. Private investigators have no police or state surveillance powers. Our legal framework explains the boundaries.

Our core services are delivered in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. For work in the Republic of Ireland or elsewhere in Europe, we work with vetted partner agencies who share our standards. International engagements are managed through our UK office.

Personal data collected during investigations is handled in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Retention depends on the purpose and the engagement; case files are typically kept for six years after completion, as explained in our privacy notice. That notice also explains limited sharing with authorised recipients and service providers, and disclosures required by law.

For urgent matters we can mobilise within 24 hours, subject to resource availability. Standard investigations typically start within three to five working days of the engagement letter being agreed. Contact our enquiry line to discuss your timeline.

Sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence in the United Kingdom. There are well-established free support services as well as platform takedown routes you can use directly. We have written a separate guidance page covering immediate steps, free support services such as the Revenge Porn Helpline and StopNCII.org, the legal position, what we can help with, and pre-written takedown messages you can adapt and send yourself. See intimate image abuse: removal and support.

Yes. The site is published as a Tor v3 onion service in addition to the public web. Reaching it through Tor Browser helps conceal your IP address from the site. It does not make an enquiry anonymous if you provide identifying details, protect a compromised device, or guarantee that Tor use itself is hidden from your internet provider. The onion address and a short setup guide are on our access via Tor page. If you are already using Tor Browser to read this page, you should see an "Onion Available" banner offering to switch automatically.