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| Private-eyes offer 'illegal services' | Private-eyes offer 'illegal services' |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| By David Connett The Donal MacIntyre programme, BBC 5 Live The private investigators offered to bug phones and homesThe government is moving to regulate the private-eye industry after growing evidence the work of private investigators is a world away from the romantic fictional image of Sam Spade. | By David Connett The Donal MacIntyre programme, BBC 5 Live The private investigators offered to bug phones and homesThe government is moving to regulate the private-eye industry after growing evidence the work of private investigators is a world away from the romantic fictional image of Sam Spade. |
| A BBC investigation approached 40 private detective agencies in the UK and the results suggest the reality is an altogether more sinister affair. | A BBC investigation approached 40 private detective agencies in the UK and the results suggest the reality is an altogether more sinister affair. |
| Posing as wives suspicious that their husbands were having affairs, researchers for Radio 5 live's Donal MacIntyre programme found more than half the private investigators approached quickly offered to break the law. | |
| Using an online telephone book and internet search engine the callers identified 20 private investigators or detective agencies in London and 20 in Manchester, ranging from lone operators, to companies with a few dozen employees. | Using an online telephone book and internet search engine the callers identified 20 private investigators or detective agencies in London and 20 in Manchester, ranging from lone operators, to companies with a few dozen employees. |
| The illegal services the private eyes offered included bugging phones, cars and houses, inserting James Bond-style spyware onto computers and obtaining confidential bank account details. | The illegal services the private eyes offered included bugging phones, cars and houses, inserting James Bond-style spyware onto computers and obtaining confidential bank account details. |
| 16 of the 40 investigators contacted offered to find out who the husband was calling on his mobile phone. | 16 of the 40 investigators contacted offered to find out who the husband was calling on his mobile phone. |
| Where a 'wife' was suspicious of a regular financial transfer, 10 private detectives offered to ascertain the husband's bank details and find out where the payment was going to. | Where a 'wife' was suspicious of a regular financial transfer, 10 private detectives offered to ascertain the husband's bank details and find out where the payment was going to. |
| One agency admitted it was not easy to legally find who the money was being paid to but still said they could do it for between £500 - £1000. | One agency admitted it was not easy to legally find who the money was being paid to but still said they could do it for between £500 - £1000. |
| Police 'on payroll' | Police 'on payroll' |
| Many of the private detectives spoken to openly admitted what they were doing was illegal. | Many of the private detectives spoken to openly admitted what they were doing was illegal. |
| To resolve the suspicious wife's dilemma, the investigators did not require information held by the police, however, one private eye bragged that he could get information from police officers who were "in debt and needed money". | To resolve the suspicious wife's dilemma, the investigators did not require information held by the police, however, one private eye bragged that he could get information from police officers who were "in debt and needed money". |
| This agency, one of the bigger firms with offices around the country, said that using a car registration number their police contacts could get a name and address. | This agency, one of the bigger firms with offices around the country, said that using a car registration number their police contacts could get a name and address. |
| It is against the law for officers to access the Police National Computer in this way. | It is against the law for officers to access the Police National Computer in this way. |
| HOW TO LISTEN... The Donal MacIntyre programme is on Radio 5 Live on Sunday, 28 September at 1900 BST. Listen via the BBC iPlayerSubscribe to the podcast The Serious and Organised Crime Agency has warned ministers links between private investigators and serving police officers are a major source of corruption. | HOW TO LISTEN... The Donal MacIntyre programme is on Radio 5 Live on Sunday, 28 September at 1900 BST. Listen via the BBC iPlayerSubscribe to the podcast The Serious and Organised Crime Agency has warned ministers links between private investigators and serving police officers are a major source of corruption. |
| BBC 5live's revelations came as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it had raided the offices of five private investigators after uncovering a Hong Kong based website which allows unscrupulous investigators to bid to provide personal information, some of which can only be obtained by breaking the law. | BBC 5live's revelations came as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it had raided the offices of five private investigators after uncovering a Hong Kong based website which allows unscrupulous investigators to bid to provide personal information, some of which can only be obtained by breaking the law. |
| According to the ICO some of the personal information requested via the website relates to UK individuals and involves a number of private investigators based in the UK. | According to the ICO some of the personal information requested via the website relates to UK individuals and involves a number of private investigators based in the UK. |
| Regulator to investigate | Regulator to investigate |
| The private investigators are being investigated for breaching the Data Protection Act, as it is a criminal offence to illegally obtain, buy or sell personal information. | The private investigators are being investigated for breaching the Data Protection Act, as it is a criminal offence to illegally obtain, buy or sell personal information. |
| David Smith, Deputy Head of the ICO said 5live's findings were "shocking and worrying but not surprising." | David Smith, Deputy Head of the ICO said 5live's findings were "shocking and worrying but not surprising." |
| Mr Smith added: "We know there is a significant illegal trade going on. We are collecting intelligence, we are investigating these people. We do bring prosecutions. And your evidence tells us that although we're working very hard on this area we need to work even harder still." | Mr Smith added: "We know there is a significant illegal trade going on. We are collecting intelligence, we are investigating these people. We do bring prosecutions. And your evidence tells us that although we're working very hard on this area we need to work even harder still." |
| The ICO, which estimates that as many as 60% of its enforcement activity involves investigating private eyes, says illegal activity by private investigators involves the most serious breaches of the data protection act. | The ICO, which estimates that as many as 60% of its enforcement activity involves investigating private eyes, says illegal activity by private investigators involves the most serious breaches of the data protection act. |
| Mr Smith said: "It is a real intrusion into the privacy of people's information. There is some evidence that this is linked with serious crime. These people call themselves private investigators - in actual fact they are nothing more than charlatans and crooks Gavin Robertson Association of British Investigators | Mr Smith said: "It is a real intrusion into the privacy of people's information. There is some evidence that this is linked with serious crime. These people call themselves private investigators - in actual fact they are nothing more than charlatans and crooks Gavin Robertson Association of British Investigators |
| "Some of the information which is obtained by deception is used to intimidate witnesses and is used to compound fraud and so on. | "Some of the information which is obtained by deception is used to intimidate witnesses and is used to compound fraud and so on. |
| "It's not just an intrusion into people's privacy though that's an important part of it. We are having some effect on the trade but there is a long way to go yet, but licensing, prison sentences would all help us in our task" | "It's not just an intrusion into people's privacy though that's an important part of it. We are having some effect on the trade but there is a long way to go yet, but licensing, prison sentences would all help us in our task" |
| With mounting evidence of widespread illegality, Ministers have asked the watchdog Security Industry Authority (SIA) to examine ways to rein in the industry. | With mounting evidence of widespread illegality, Ministers have asked the watchdog Security Industry Authority (SIA) to examine ways to rein in the industry. |
| They are considering a system of licensing and regulation. | They are considering a system of licensing and regulation. |
| It is not known exactly how many private investigators are operating in the UK, but it is estimated to be several thousand. | It is not known exactly how many private investigators are operating in the UK, but it is estimated to be several thousand. |
| Five of the private agencies contacted were members of the Association of British Investigators (ABI). | Five of the private agencies contacted were members of the Association of British Investigators (ABI). |
| Gavin Robertson, from the ABI, told the BBC: "I'm aware that it's been going on, it's been going on for generations and the Association of British Investigators has been working hard since 1952, with the government, to bring about licensing. | Gavin Robertson, from the ABI, told the BBC: "I'm aware that it's been going on, it's been going on for generations and the Association of British Investigators has been working hard since 1952, with the government, to bring about licensing. |
| "It's been an uphill struggle, but at last licensing is coming into being. Now whether it will have any effect on this, I don't know". | "It's been an uphill struggle, but at last licensing is coming into being. Now whether it will have any effect on this, I don't know". |
| An ABI spokesman earlier said that the vast majority of members were doing valuable work for corporate and business clients. | An ABI spokesman earlier said that the vast majority of members were doing valuable work for corporate and business clients. |
| Find out more on the Donal MacIntyre programme on Radio 5live at 1900BST on Sunday 28 Sept or download the href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/5lr/">podcast. |