The
History
• From 2 men – offering everything from process servings, interviews and
repossessions.
• Initially a simple enquiry in Skelmersdale on behalf of a London based agency
revealed that insurance companies throughout the UK were paying excessive fees
for basic reports with poor quality photographs.
Humble
beginnings
• Iron Trades now QBE were the clients and they quickly recognised the need for
moving filmed evidence which we offered.
• Our claims of quality filmed results clearly TOUCHED A NERVE
• By return post we had the first FIVE instructions.
• Being ex Police we knew the workings of such an enquiry and the necessary
surveillance expertise.
• However we lacked
:-• CAMERA EQUIPMENT
• SURVEILLANCE VEHICLES • NECESSARY FUNDS
Problems?..What
Problems?
• We started with
:-• Hired a Cine Camera
• used a small hatch back – equipped with a box tunnel and a 2” space below the hatch back door.
One
of
the
five
jobs
was
a
subject
named
June
Galley
June
Galley
Claimant :‐ 49 year old female
Accident :‐ Fell down a flight of stairs whilst at work and sustained a back, neck
and head injury.
Disability :‐ Claimed to be confined to a wheelchair, couldn’t walk, unable to do
any domestic chores and relied completely on her husband.
Clients Requirements:‐ Establish the amount of daily care required and levels of
June
Galley
• Initially filmed from car • General housework
• Hoovering
• Dusting
• Changing Curtains
• Later filmed at a local Town Hall assisting husband down a flight of steps.
• Sadly husband died before the hearing which actually prevented the Judge
taking action regarding her perjury as he found against the plaintiff very
Stated
Case
In the very early days the Company obtained a film of a man named McGuiness, an
employee of Kelloggs in Manchester .
It was decided to take this case all the way through the various Courts and to the
House of Lords and from this a set procedure for the production of filmed evidence
was created.
-v-
McGuiness
(1988)Because of the alarming prospect of “surprise” evidence it was generally decided
to take a test case through the judicial system to agree a working procedure for
The
Result
Certain aspects were tweaked over the following years but this procedure
remained until the Woolf Reforms in 1999 also known as the Civil Procedure Rules
and even now the basics remain the same, but the content of any film is now
always known to the other side well before the court case.
An Appeal procedure was introduced but even then the decisions differed
depending on whether the Judge had previously acted on behalf of the Plaintiff or
the Defendant.
The presence of film had to be declared in document lists but not the content, but
this continued to make the other side very nervous.
There is of course detailed references to this decision should you wish to read
Filmed
Evidence
• Initially cine film – necessitating laboratory processing at the Kodak Factory.
• Our fame was spreading; a client had an expensive claim in Court in 7 days and
needed film.
• A video camera was therefore needed.
We proved he :
¾ was a Secretary of a Working Mans Club
¾ conducted 3 bank accounts
¾ filmed purchasing raffle prizes
¾ later filmed nailing glazing panels to the windows of the WMC The subject :
¾ suffered a trench collapse and was buried
¾ claimed brain damage
¾ could not drive
¾ had no coordination
¾ could not count money
Surveillance
Surveillance in this area of operation is not as simple as it appears. It is not as
simple as taking someone from the street, giving them a camera and a vehicle and
expecting great results.
The ideal source of potential employees are: ‐ • Police
• Special Services
• Royal Marines
BUT they are not necessarily good in this area just because of their background
BEFORE anyone is EMPLOYED they are tested for aptitude.
It is amazing how many people lack in the natural ability to follow someone
Following
a
Subject
No Win No Fee
Most Subjects today are warned they will be followed, therefore specialist
techniques are developed for following even on foot.
It is NOT unusual for the Subject to wait around a corner to see if someone is
behind them.
•When following there are at least two vehicles.
•When the Subject is warned, they are usually looking for a vehicle to follow as
soon as they leave their home.
•The 1st car remains parked and the 2nd car takes up the follow and then when out of sight the 1st car joins back in.
•We then watch for Anti Surveillance tactics and these are usually spotted at an early stage from years of experience.
Human
Rights
Act
1998
What
film
is
needed?
We would normally film exactly what we see and as much of every activity as we can.
Whilst following the Subject an operative must have the aptitude to think ahead.
Traffic lights and roundabouts can cause problems ‐ if you leave too big a gap then it
can be filled by a slower vehicle.
An operative must have the aptitude to guess when the Subject is stopping and be
Human Rights Act 1998 &
Regulation of Investigatory Powers
Act 2000 (RIPA)
When instructed we film exactly what we see and as much of every activity as we can.
Due to certain legislation we are told by certain clients what and when we can observe
and film.
When approaching government departments we are often asked how ‘The Human Rights
Act and R.I.P.A. effect us and the way we work?
The Human Rights Act is now very much a ‘grey’ area. Their have now been several stated cases where the use of covert film from inside a private house has been used to defend a fraudulent personal Injury Claim.
Human Rights Act 1998 &
Regulation of Investigatory Powers
Act 2000 (RIPA)
With this in mind, it is company policy to not attempt to obtain any video footage
from inside a private house or dwelling by gaining access without extreme
circumstances and prior authorisation from head office and/or the client. Film taken
from outside the property on a public footpath or highway is deemed as in the public
eye and the usual common sense will hopefully prevail.
Standard
Equipment
Each operative is equipped with: ‐
• Surveillance vehicle ‐ it used to be vans but they are now often anticipated
• Digital video camera
• Radio all on same channel • Mobile phone
• Camera bag for use in shopping malls, pubs, etc
In addition we also have specialist cameras
All staff are trained in the operation of all pieces of equipment.
It is common for an operative to be a great driver but useless on foot or equally
poor with a video camera.
Our
Team
and
our
Results
We all know that there are some genuine Claimants out there but with the
present claims culture even they exaggerate the claim and try to show they have a
greater level of disability or a greater need for care than is actually the truth.
Claimant :‐ 38 year old male
Accident :‐ at work
Disability :‐ paralysed from the chest down, confined to a motorised wheelchair.
Clients Requirements:‐ He was living in temporary accommodation until his
bungalow was adapted for wheelchair access and his mobility car arrived.
Client requested an update as he had now put a claim in for 24hour 7 day a week
