AIC BlogA.I.C Legal Services call for Government to ban Cowboy DetectivesPosted 7 June ,2010 in Surveillance
A.I.C Legal Services Ltd believe it is time for the Government and the Health and safety Executive(HSE) to stamp out ‘cowboy’ investigators and protect genuine Investigation companies and the public. It is no secret that there is a large number of private detectives who are nothing more than someone at home with a camera, who has placed at £1,000 advert and sits back awaiting on a vulnerable customer to take advantage off. Often they have no training in surveillance or investigations but the customer is not to know this and they have no idea what to expect. It is only after the job has been botched that they realise they have been conned or given a 2nd rate job. These same ‘cowboys’ make it very difficult for genuine companies such as A.I.C Legal Services Ltd as they can often under cut our prices, sometimes as much as £20 per hour. More often than not private clients will go for the cheapest option not realising they could probably do the job as well by themselves. They spend the minimum on investigative equipment, they place one advert per year and they make their money back with sending 1 agent and charging for 2 or 3 agents. On top of this it is not uncommon for them to charge extortionate prices for hidden extras such as video evidence, fuel and written reports which were never discussed with their clients. A.I.C Legal Services Ltd spend thousands of pounds every year in the latest technology and equipment, training agents to the highest standards, having the correct licences and insurances to ensure our all our clients get best value for money. Perhaps it is no wonder we get frustrated when we are losing work or picking up the pieces from these ‘cowboys’. A.I.C Director Mr Evans will write to the Government and the HSE this week to demand something be put in place as an interim measure ahead of a long and never ending promise to regulate private investigators within the Security Industry Association (SIA). Mr Evans said “ at the very least the public should be protected by Investigators and their staff having to show CRB,s. These ‘cowboys are ruining the industry and have been for some years now. If you are a Plumber, Bricklayer, Engineer, Nurse, Fire-fighter, Police Officer, Solicitor then you will regulated and monitored by a professional body so why is it taking so long for this industry to get its act together? I have been following the ongoing debate for some years now and promises of SIA regulations yet i see no light at the end of the tunnel so to say I am disheartened would be an understatement”
