Investigation services
Surveillance investigations
Authorised observation for insurance, suspected fraud and other sensitive organisational matters.
Dated observations and relevant imagery within the authorised scope.
Define the question before observation.
Surveillance can be considered as part of an authorised insurance, workplace, fraud or commercial enquiry when observation may address a specific factual question. The instruction should identify the relevance of the activity, the permitted work and the output needed by the instructing team.
A concern or inconsistency does not establish dishonesty. Even where a brief refers to suspected fraudulent claim activity, the enquiry begins with a question to examine. It does not assume an incriminating observation or a particular result.
Agree a proportionate and appropriate scope.
Authority, licensing, jurisdiction, information handling and the proposed method are checked before action. The scope establishes the observation objective and the boundaries of the assignment. Material changes or an additional method require their own consideration rather than an assumed extension of the brief.
The service is for legitimate institutional instructions. It does not imply private-account access, unlawful tracking, entry into private premises, misleading pretexts or an unrestricted right to observe a person. Particular operational arrangements are settled within the actual authorised engagement.
Record what was actually observed.
Reporting separates direct observation from interpretation, assumption and uncertain identification. Dates, relevant times and context are recorded, with footage or images referenced where lawfully obtained. The record identifies the periods actually observed rather than suggesting continuous knowledge of a person’s activities.
- A defined observation objective and record of the work undertaken.
- Dated observation or activity logs within the agreed scope.
- Relevant footage or images where lawfully obtained and available.
- A factual report connecting observations with the recorded material.
- Material gaps, interruptions and identification limitations.
The detail behind the enquiry.
Explore the scope, evidence requirements and practical considerations.
Assess the observation within its limits.
Recorded activity may assist a wider factual assessment, including a workers’ compensation enquiry where relevant activity is disputed. It does not, by itself, establish medical capacity, the cause of an injury, dishonesty or claim entitlement. Those wider assessments belong to the appropriately qualified and authorised decision-makers.
A brief sequence does not necessarily establish what occurred outside the recorded period. The report should make that boundary clear and retain relevant context when describing the footage. Lack of a material observation is not filled with assumptions.
Connect observation with the wider enquiry.
The instructing team may need to consider observations alongside witness statements, reported duties or other authorised records. Any comparison should identify the sources and the limits of the proposition being tested. An apparent difference can identify a further question without resolving it.
Where additional records or statements would assist, their purpose can be described for scope approval. The handover should allow the client to distinguish the observation, the accompanying source material and any separate investigator analysis.
Plan the handover before the work begins.
Agree the recipient, reporting requirements and appropriate transfer arrangements for footage and records. Availability, location, timing and commercial controls are confirmed for the specific instruction. An initial website enquiry is a discussion about scope and does not authorise surveillance to commence.
Before we begin
Practical questions.
Practical questions.
Can surveillance be considered for a suspected fraudulent claim?
Yes, where a specific factual question, lawful authority and proportionate scope are established. The report records the observations and their limits without beginning from a conclusion that the claim is fraudulent.
What can the deliverable include?
Agreed outputs may include dated logs, relevant lawfully obtained footage or images and a factual report. The periods observed, available material and significant limitations are identified.
Does recorded activity establish fitness for work?
Not by itself. The investigation describes the observed activity and context. Medical capacity, causation and claim decisions remain for the appropriately qualified and authorised decision-makers.
Can the assignment be extended if new questions arise?
Additional observation or another method needs a defined purpose and agreed authority, scope and commercial arrangements. It is not an automatic consequence of the initial instruction.
Begin with a clear brief
Define the evidentiary purpose.
Request a discussion about whether observation may assist the factual enquiries. Use the form for your contact details only.