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
All surveillance is covert and conducted within the boundaries set by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. 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 records no investigator can obtain. 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?
Yes, when it is proportionate and conducted lawfully. Our surveillance operates within the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. 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?
No. All surveillance is covert, and each instruction is scoped to answer a specific question rather than to follow someone indefinitely. Proportionality is agreed in writing before the first day in the field.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.