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Law firms linked to convicted private investigators Law firms linked to convicted private investigators
(about 3 hours later)
Twenty-two law firms used private investigators convicted of illegally obtaining information, MPs have said. Law firms, insurance companies and celebrities are among 94 clients that used private investigators convicted of illegally obtaining information, MPs have said.
Celebrities, eight financial services firms and 10 insurance companies were also identified as clients of the private investigators by the Home Affairs Select Committee. The Home Affairs Select Committee published a breakdown of the clients but did not name them individually.
The four investigators concerned were given jail sentences last year. The four rogue investigators concerned were given jail sentences last year.
The Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has refused to name the rogue operators' clients. Committee chairman Keith Vaz said he wanted to name the clients when the committee published its final report.
Private dataPrivate data
The private investigators specialised in illegally obtaining private information from organisations like banks, utility companies and HM Revenue and Customs. The private investigators specialised in illegally obtaining private information from organisations such as banks, utility companies and HM Revenue and Customs.
Because Soca says the list of clients is confidential, the committee has not named them but instead breaks it down by business sector. Because the companies involved could be investigated by the police and the information commissioner, the committee says it has not named them. Instead it lists them by business sector.
The list suggested that private investigators often subcontract work to each other - 16 clients were other private investigation agencies.The list suggested that private investigators often subcontract work to each other - 16 clients were other private investigation agencies.
Committee chairman Keith Vaz said: "The committee remains concerned that it holds a list that Soca has classified as secret, even though it is evidence given as part of our inquiry." Labour MP Mr Vaz said: "When we publish our report into private investigators, we would like to be in a position where we publish the entire list.
But the Labour MP added: "This is an important step forward in establishing the facts." "But we don't want to compromise any investigation that the Metropolitan Police may or may not be involved in."
Computers seized Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he had "a lot of sympathy" with those who wanted big companies who use private detectives to be open about it.
The list summarises clients identified by Operation Millipede, which led to the convictions of Philip Campbell-Smith and Graham Freeman who ran an agency called Brookmans International, and retired Metropolitan Police detective Adam Spears who worked alone. He added he was "very concerned about the role of rogue private investigators" and that the government would be announcing plans to regulate the industry later on Wednesday.
A fourth defendant, Daniel Summers, was subcontracted by the others to carry out the so-called blagging of private information.
Soca seized computers during raids on the private investigators in 2009.
Evidence from these machines is now being used in another police investigation, Operation Tuleta, which is examining the illegal accessing of private information by journalists and companies.
Soca has refused to name the clients in the Millipede case because it said that could disrupt the ongoing Tuleta inquiry.
The Metropolitan Police said it would not support the naming of suspects in such circumstances.
Soca also maintained there was no proof the clients acted illegally.
BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said proving that the clients commissioned work knowing it would breach the data protection act - the most likely charge they might face - could be difficult.BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said proving that the clients commissioned work knowing it would breach the data protection act - the most likely charge they might face - could be difficult.
One of the clients, a solicitor, told the BBC she hired Brookmans International to track down a fraudster but insisted she did not break the law. One of the clients, a solicitor, told the BBC she hired the Brookmans International firm to track down a fraudster but insisted she did not break the law.
She said she put in writing her request to the private detectives that they do not do anything illegal.She said she put in writing her request to the private detectives that they do not do anything illegal.
Vital workVital work
Much of the work of private investigators involves finding out where fraudsters have hidden stolen money or tracking down people who owe money so that civil litigation can begin.Much of the work of private investigators involves finding out where fraudsters have hidden stolen money or tracking down people who owe money so that civil litigation can begin.
Another law firm which uses private investigators said such work was vital because often police will not go after fraudsters.Another law firm which uses private investigators said such work was vital because often police will not go after fraudsters.
The client categories published by the committee does not appear to contain media companies. The client categories list published by the committee does not appear to contain media companies.
Our correspondent said critics of Soca argued it had failed to act on the corporate use of private investigators, while journalists who allegedly obtained private information by the breaking the law were subjected to several major police investigations. Our correspondent said critics of the Serious Organised Crime Agency argued it had failed to act on the corporate use of private investigators, while journalists who allegedly obtained private information by breaking the law were subjected to several major police investigations.
The Millipede case is not one of the five detailed in a widely leaked report compiled by Soca in 2008 which warned of the risk of rogue private investigators.
The report was an analysis of cases that all reached their conclusion before it was written.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May is shortly expected to announce proposals that will require private detectives to have a licence to operate, barring anyone found guilty of hacking or blagging - obtaining information by using a false identity.
The Met Police said it supported the "strong regulation of the private investigation industry and a system that allows for a client to perform due diligence checks on the individual or company they wish to hire".The Met Police said it supported the "strong regulation of the private investigation industry and a system that allows for a client to perform due diligence checks on the individual or company they wish to hire".