What surveillance and HUMINT covers
- Covert mobile and static surveillance of a subject, in urban, suburban, and rural environments;
- Subject profiling based on lawful sources — open records, public-domain information, and physical observation;
- Field operations in support of a wider investigation — for example, locating a subject so a process server or solicitor can act, or confirming presence at a specific place and time;
- Contemporaneous observation logs prepared in the form expected by courts and tribunals;
- Photographic and video evidence captured on equipment suitable for evidential use, with continuity and chain of custody preserved.
When clients engage surveillance
- An insurer or a personal-injury solicitor needs evidence of activity inconsistent with a claim;
- A workplace investigation needs visual confirmation of conduct alleged in a grievance;
- A solicitor in matrimonial or family proceedings needs evidence of cohabitation, asset use, or contact with a person the court has restricted contact with;
- A private individual needs to know whether a partner is where they say they are.
How surveillance is conducted lawfully
We assess covert surveillance against data protection, privacy, and harassment law, taking the jurisdiction and circumstances into account. We will not undertake surveillance that would amount to harassment, that targets people in a protected setting (such as a place of worship or a refuge), or that is disproportionate to the legitimate aim of the engagement.
Our guide on what a private investigator can and cannot legally do sets out the boundary in plain terms, including the limits on access to private records. For our full process from first contact through to post-report support, see how we work.
Common questions
Is covert surveillance legal in the UK?
Covert observation can be lawful, depending on its purpose, method, location, and impact on the people involved. We assess data protection, privacy, and harassment law before agreeing an instruction. RIPA does not give private investigators state surveillance powers. We will not follow someone in a way that amounts to harassment, target a child, or observe people in a setting where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.Will the person know they are being watched?
We plan observation discreetly, but cannot guarantee that it will go unnoticed. Each instruction is scoped to answer a specific question, with limits and risks agreed before work begins.What do I receive at the end?
A contemporaneous observation log, photographic or video evidence captured with continuity and chain of custody preserved, and a written report in the form expected by courts and tribunals. Where a hearing follows, we provide witness statements and attend where required.More general questions about cost, timescales, and evidence are answered on our FAQs page.