Can Evidence from Private Investigators be used in Court?

October 8, 2023 - Reading time: 10 minutes
Updated on: September 4, 2025

Yes. Private investigators can gather evidence which is admissible in a court of law, subject to the discretion of the judge. For evidence to be legally admissible, investigators must follow strict practices and procedures. There are, however, exceptions and important considerations relating to the admissibility of surveillance evidence in UK courts.

Gathering evidence for use in court is a delicate matter which should only be handled by an experienced private investigator. When it comes to covert surveillance or checking on a person's activities, one mistake could alert the subject and undermine the case. Experience and discretion are crucial when gathering proof that stands up in court.

Gathering Information Legally

Maintaining the admissibility of evidence requires following UK law. Competent private investigators understand what counts as legal surveillance. Any evidence obtained through trespassing, hacking, intimidation, or unlawful methods will be rejected by the court and could expose the investigator to prosecution. Judges only admit surveillance evidence when it is collected fairly and lawfully.

Changes in Accessing Internet Data

The Investigatory Powers Act (2016) reshaped how internet data can be accessed. This legislation tightened restrictions, making careless data handling a criminal offence. For private investigators, it limits what can legally be done in online research and surveillance, further defining what is admissible digital evidence in UK courts.

Clarity and Precision

Reports prepared for court must be clear and precise. A private investigator’s report needs to use neutral language and present facts in a structured way. Vague or speculative reporting undermines admissibility. Judges expect a report that shows professionalism and leaves little room for misinterpretation.

Improving Evidence Quality

Evidence does not need to be perfect, but higher quality makes it more persuasive. Professional investigators record video and photographs in high definition, with accurate time and date stamps. Metadata can also strengthen the case. This kind of detailed surveillance evidence is often relied on in personal injury claims or insurance disputes.

Importance of Clear Footage

In family law cases such as child custody or divorce, the quality of footage is critical. Simply filming a subject carrying a box does not necessarily show whether they are fit or unfit. Surveillance should capture clear context - what the box contained, the subject’s movements across the day, and over a longer period. Clear, legally obtained surveillance footage is far more likely to be admissible in UK courts.

Polygraph Tests and Admissibility

In the UK, polygraph test results are not admissible in either criminal or civil courts. Other countries sometimes allow them, usually only when administered by law enforcement. UK private investigators therefore do not rely on lie detector results for legal proceedings.

Common Reports Used in Court

Private investigators are often engaged to provide evidence in child custody disputes, divorce cases, and personal injury claims. In custody disputes, surveillance helps demonstrate day to day care arrangements. In divorce proceedings, investigators may be asked to prove infidelity or hidden assets. For corporate clients, surveillance evidence is frequently used in personal injury fraud cases. In all situations, admissibility depends on whether the surveillance was legal, proportionate, and relevant.

If a client needs to serve court paperwork, investigators can also act as impartial process servers. This helps ensure documents are delivered properly and recognised by the court.

Private Investigators UK

We are leading private investigators based in the UK. Visit our homepage to learn more about services including legal surveillance, process serving, background checks, and court ready reporting, or request a free, no obligation quote.

How Asset Tracing Works – A Step-by-Step Guide

October 1, 2023 - Reading time: 11 minutes
Updated on: September 4, 2025

Asset tracing is the process of identifying, tracking, and recovering assets that may have been hidden, moved, or misappropriated. At Private Investigators UK, our team is frequently instructed to trace assets in complex situations such as divorce, fraud investigations, bankruptcy cases, and debt recovery. This work often supports wider asset recovery strategies in the UK and internationally.

Whether someone is trying to hide money offshore or transfer property to avoid creditors, tracing these assets calls for a mix of financial analysis, investigative skill, and legal support. Here is how it works, step by step.

Step 1: Identifying the Assets

The first stage is to define the target. We build a picture of the subject’s financial footprint - bank accounts, business interests, property ownership, vehicles, luxury goods, investments, and cryptocurrency wallets.

We use public records and lawful sources such as Companies House, Land Registry, court filings, open source intelligence, and interviews. In corporate cases we also look for shell companies, nominee directors, and links to ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs). The aim is to map the assets, spot gaps, and flag red flags that point to hidden or transferred wealth.

Step 2: Securing the Assets

Once assets are identified, the priority is to secure value before it moves. Legal teams may seek a freezing injunction (also called a Mareva injunction) or a worldwide freezing order to stop dissipation. Timing matters - a short delay can give the subject room to shift funds or sell property.

Our role is to supply clear, court-ready evidence that supports these applications and to work with solicitors and counsel so orders are obtained and served correctly.

Step 3: Tracing Asset Movements

With the position stabilised, we follow the trail. Funds may pass through layers of companies, third parties, and accounts in other jurisdictions. We combine document review, data analysis, digital forensics, and manual cross checks to simplify the chain of ownership. The goal is a clear route to enforcement that stands up to scrutiny.

This stage often uncovers additional value - trusts, informal loans, or side agreements that disguise control.

Step 4: Recovery

Recovery depends on the assets and jurisdiction. Routes can include negotiated settlement, court enforcement, garnishee orders over bank funds, forced sale of property, charging orders over shares, or recognition and enforcement of a judgment abroad. Breach of a freezing order can lead to contempt of court, which is a serious matter.

Legal Tools and Orders Often Used

• Freezing injunctions and worldwide freezing orders (WFOs) to prevent dissipation.
• Norwich Pharmacal orders to compel third parties (such as banks or platforms) to disclose information that identifies wrongdoers or asset paths.
• Bankers Trust orders for confidential disclosure to trace and preserve misappropriated funds.
• Disclosure orders against companies, exchanges, and payment providers to obtain account data, KYC, or transaction records.
• Search and preservation orders where appropriate to secure records and devices.

These orders are applied for by solicitors through the courts. Our investigations provide the factual basis and evidence needed to support them.

Cryptoasset Tracing

We work on cryptocurrency tracing where funds have moved through exchanges or mixers. Blockchain analysis can link wallets to services and help tie activity to named users once platform data is disclosed. Recovery typically involves disclosure orders, freezing orders against known exchange accounts, and cooperation with platforms to restrict transfers.

International Asset Tracing

Hidden assets are often offshore. We coordinate with trusted contacts to access foreign records, interpret filings, and liaise with local lawyers so UK orders can be recognised or mirrored. Cross border enforcement of judgments is a specialist area and usually requires a local law firm; our role is to keep the evidence flow clear and complete.

When Is Asset Tracing Used?

• Divorce and family cases where one partner is suspected of concealing income or assets.
• Corporate disputes between owners or shareholders, including diversion of assets.
• Fraud investigations and embezzlement where funds have been misappropriated.
• Insolvency and bankruptcy where transfers were made before filing or to defeat creditors.

We also support solicitors in preparing applications for injunctions and disclosure orders.

Costs and Timelines

Time and cost vary with scope, jurisdictions, and how well the subject has hidden assets. A straightforward UK only matter can move quickly. Complex cross border cases with crypto, shell entities, and nominees take longer. Early scoping helps set a realistic plan and budget.

Need Help Tracing Assets?

If you are struggling to locate assets that you believe you are owed, get in touch with us. We can assess your case in confidence and advise on next steps - from early intelligence to full asset recovery.

How to Gather Proof of Cohabitation in the UK

September 24, 2023 - Reading time: 8 minutes
Updated on: September 4, 2025

Why Proof of Cohabitation is Necessary

People seek cohabitation evidence for different reasons. Common scenarios include:

1. Landlords who suspect unlawful subletting or unauthorised occupants.
2. Local authority or DWP investigators reviewing suspected Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support fraud.
3. Ex-partners questioning living arrangements that could affect spousal maintenance or child maintenance.
4. Solicitors who need cohabitation evidence for family court or divorce proceedings.

Misrepresentation of cohabitation is common in fraud cases. Government figures suggest benefit fraud costs taxpayers around £2 billion a year, and unlawful subletting of social housing is also treated as a criminal offence.

What Counts as Cohabitation?

Citizens Advice defines cohabitation as two people living together as a couple in a relationship equivalent to marriage. Cohabiting families in the UK have grown from 1.5 million in the mid-1990s to more than 3.3 million today, making it the fastest growing family type.

Not all cohabitation is fraudulent, but people may hide or misstate living arrangements to gain financially. Landlords also face cohabitation issues where tenants sublet without consent.

Requirements from the Courts

If you intend to rely on cohabitation evidence in court, you need credible proof. This usually means a detailed cohabitation report supported by photographic and video surveillance, ideally collected over two to three weeks. Courts prefer continuous monitoring rather than isolated snapshots.

Evidence Types

Useful evidence can include:

• Logs of activity in and out of a property
• Time-stamped photos and video footage showing occupants
• Consistent presence of personal vehicles
• Utility records, deliveries, or mail linking people to an address

Courts expect clarity. Smartphone images can be acceptable but high-resolution cameras and telephoto lenses provide stronger, more reliable evidence.

Records and Checks

Alongside surveillance, checks such as electoral roll searches, Land Registry entries, Companies House records, or OSINT research may support your claim. These help establish whether someone is genuinely living where they say they are.

Using a Private Investigator

Hiring a private investigator for cohabitation surveillance gives you:

• Access to professional cameras, telephoto lenses, and covert recording equipment
• Experience in gathering evidence lawfully and discreetly
• Insurance, ICO registration, and compliance with privacy rules
• Ability to prepare detailed reports accepted by solicitors and courts

Private investigators can save you time, provide impartial evidence, and raise the chance your case is taken seriously.

How Moonlighting Affects Your Business & What You Can Do

September 17, 2023 - Reading time: 11 minutes
Updated on: September 4, 2025

What Is Moonlighting?

Moonlighting means holding a second job outside someone’s main employment. It is not automatically unlawful, but it becomes a problem when any of the following apply:

• Performance in the primary job is slipping
• Company policies or contract terms are breached
• There is a conflict of interest - for example, working for a competitor or servicing your clients on the side
• Company time, data, or equipment are being misused for secondary work

Some employees manage extra work without issues. Problems arise when it is hidden, unmanaged, or begins to impact your business.

Common Signs an Employee Is Moonlighting

Moonlighting can be subtle. Typical red flags include:

• Frequent lateness, early finishes, or unexplained absences
• Unusual fatigue, low focus, falling productivity, or missed deadlines
• Excessive sick leave or short-notice time off requests around the same days
• Using company devices or networks for non-work activity
• Other staff raising concerns about unfair workloads

These patterns do not prove moonlighting on their own - personal issues or burnout may also be in play. Treat them as prompts to look closer.

What’s the Impact on Your Business?

• Lower performance - tired or distracted staff rarely meet expectations
• Team morale - resentment builds if others pick up the slack
• Conflicts of interest - side work for competitors or your clients undercuts your business
• Data and confidentiality risks - information can leak, even accidentally
• Health and safety - fatigue can raise accident risk and breach working time limits

Left alone, these issues can harm customer experience, increase turnover, and damage your reputation.

Set a Clear Moonlighting Policy

A clear, written policy helps you manage secondary employment fairly. Useful points to include:

• Disclosure - staff must tell you about any second job or freelance work
• Approval - set a simple request-and-approval process with reasonable criteria
• Working time - remind staff to stay within legal hours and take proper rest
• Conflicts of interest - define competing work and client poaching
• Confidentiality and data - ban using your data, kit, or brand for side jobs
• Use of company time - no secondary work during contracted hours
• Consequences - link breaches to your disciplinary procedure

Share the policy, obtain acknowledgement, and apply it consistently to avoid claims of unfair treatment.

How to Investigate Fairly

If you suspect moonlighting, follow a fair and proportionate process:

1. Document concerns - dates, times, missed deadlines, team feedback
2. Secure data properly - preserve timesheets, network logs, rota info, and relevant emails
3. Invite the employee to an initial meeting - outline concerns and hear their explanation
4. Check conflicts - look for links to competitors or your clients
5. Assess risk - performance, confidentiality, and health and safety
6. Decide on next steps - improvement plan, formal investigation, or no action

If you need external fact-finding, consider discreet help rather than confronting without evidence.

Why and When to Use a Private Investigator

Confronting an employee without evidence is risky. A discreet investigation can confirm facts while protecting the working relationship. At Private Investigators UK we support HR and legal teams with:

• Covert surveillance to verify working patterns
• Social media and online activity review
• Employment and income verification checks
• Background checks and discreet enquiries

Our goal is to provide clear, tribunal-ready evidence so you can act confidently. If nothing is found, the matter stays confidential.