Is it legal to hire a Private Investigator to investigate your employees?

A question we often get asked, usually by small companies that suspect wrongdoing by one of their staff, is it legal for them to hire the services of a private investigator to investigate one or more of their employees? The short answer is yes. As long as the investigation agency carry out the investigation using legal methods then it is fine to use the services of a private detective agency in Coventry, Warwickshire or anywhere in the UK.

Due diligence.

We would however, advise choosing  local private investigator wisely. Make sure they are fully compliant with GDPR and other laws regarding investigations. The enquiry may require periods of Surveillance for circumstances such as suspected theft or false sickness cases and it is really important that these enquiries are carried out to the letter of the law.  We would suggest you carry out due diligence before signing any contract with a private investigator.

Simple things to check, such as affiliations to organisations such as the Association Of British Investigators being the most trusted of all organisations. The ABI require strict testing and vetting of all members and members regularly have to prove they are fully insured, for professional indemnity, have a clean criminal record etc. Some other organisations do not enforce this.

Nobody wants to find themselves in a position where they lose trust with an employee and place them under investigation but it is a sad fact that at some point an employee is likely to suspect fraud, theft and deceit. As private investigators in Coventry, we conduct many corporate investigations each year. We have helped many business owners uncover the truth. We regularly work with HR departments for larger businesses.

© 4th February 2021.