Hidden cameras and microphones are easier than ever to conceal. If you feel someone could be monitoring you at home, you might be right. Consumer tech is cheap and powerful, and professional kits are hard to spot. Below are the key signs to look for, safe checks you can do, and when to bring in a professional bug sweep.

Clicking, buzzing, or bursty static near walls or sockets can indicate a transmitter. Analogue baby monitors sometimes pick up overlapping audio from cheap wireless bugs or IP cameras on 2.4 GHz.
Dogs or cats fixating on one corner, or avoiding a room entirely, can hint at ultrasonic noise or RF emissions the human ear misses. Treat this as a signal to search, not proof on its own.
If private conversations or plans leak repeatedly, assume your environment might be compromised. Capture dates and details in a log so patterns emerge during a sweep.
Open drawers, moved documents, or small items out of position can indicate a covert entry to plant or service a device. Photograph what you find before moving it.
Most covert mics are small black modules with a pin-hole mic and battery, often paired with a cheap Wi-Fi or GSM board to transmit audio. You rarely see the mic itself — it is inside something else:
Well-placed devices are not visible without disassembly. Professional implants may be hard-wired to power and tucked within voids, so consumer bug detectors won’t always find them.
DIY checks you can try safely:
Limits of DIY: cheap RF detectors struggle with modern frequency-hopping or dormant devices. Hard-wired mics without active transmission will not show on a basic sweep. That is where a professional TSCM sweep is recommended.
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For complex cases or safety concerns, consider reporting to police. Otherwise, engage a professional team to preserve evidence correctly.
Look for a pattern: disturbed fittings, odd Wi-Fi devices, interference, and private details leaking. Do simple checks, then book a professional sweep for confirmation.
They can find basic transmitters but often miss dormant, wired, or frequency-hopping devices. Treat them as a first pass, not a clean bill of health.
Costs vary by size and complexity. Flats can be a few hundred pounds, large homes or multi-site sweeps more. Ask for a free quote with property size and location.
No. Landlords cannot monitor tenants inside a rented property. If you have evidence, seek legal advice or speak to police.
Trackers and mics can be hidden in vehicles. Ask for a combined home and vehicle sweep if you suspect stalking or corporate espionage.
As leading private investigators in the UK, we are often asked if we can access someone’s private communications to confirm suspicions of infidelity. People want the truth, but hacking is not the answer and will put you at legal risk.
No. Private investigators cannot legally hack phones, social media accounts, emails, or messenger apps. Accessing someone’s device or account without consent breaches criminal and civil law in the UK. It also risks contaminating your case if you later need to rely on evidence.
Please do not contact us requesting hacking services. We do not offer or support anything illegal.

We regularly hear from people who were scammed after paying so-called ethical hackers who promised access to WhatsApp, Instagram, or call logs. In every case, the operator was fraudulent or operating illegally. Typical signs include pressure to pay by crypto or gift cards, repeated upsells, and refusal to provide a registered UK business address.
Tracing a phone number is a separate, legitimate service. In some cases we can attribute a number to a name, address, or likely user using lawful open sources and investigative techniques. This is useful to identify unknown callers or to support a wider investigation.
Important: we do not access phone records or intercept communications. All work is based on lawful sources and consent where required.
There are effective, lawful routes that protect your position if you later need to take action.
Our surveillance services are discreet and lawful, and produce evidence that is far more defensible than anything obtained by hacking.
The News of the World case showed how serious unlawful interception is. A private investigator and senior editor were convicted for voicemail interception, with custodial sentences imposed. The message is clear. No reputable UK PI should offer or attempt hacking.
If you suspect your phone or accounts are compromised, take immediate steps:
Those willing to install software may also plant physical bugs such as hidden microphones or cameras. Consider a professional sweep if you have repeated warning signs.
Our bug sweep service uses specialist equipment to detect hidden microphones, cameras, and trackers in homes, offices, and vehicles. All inquiries are confidential. Contact an experienced detective for a free quote.
Anyone offering to hack a phone or social media is putting you at risk. If you have already paid a scammer, gather receipts and messages and report the fraud to your bank and Action Fraud. We can still help you plan a lawful investigation.
We plan lawful, discreet investigations that get usable results. Request a free, no obligation quote with dates, locations, and objectives.
Using someone else’s device or account without clear consent can still be unlawful and will usually harm your position. Speak to us for safer options.
No. Networks will not release call or message content to private parties. We do not request or obtain private telecoms data.
Unlawfully obtained material can be excluded and may expose you to criminal or civil claims. Use lawful evidence that can stand up to scrutiny.
Stop self-investigating on their devices. Keep a private log of times, places, and patterns. Ask us to design a lawful plan that fits your budget.
As one of the UK’s leading detective agencies, we’re often asked whether private investigators can check criminal records during a background investigation. Many clients want to know if it’s possible to confirm whether someone has a conviction, court appearances, or a history of fraud. The answer is not straightforward: some records are off-limits, but others can be located through lawful methods such as court searches, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and reputation screening.
No. Private investigators in the UK cannot access police-held criminal records or run DBS checks without consent. These databases are restricted and only available to the police, courts, and authorised organisations. Attempting to gain access would breach the Data Protection Act and GDPR.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t uncover valuable background information. Investigators use a wide range of lawful sources that can still paint a detailed picture of a person’s history.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is the backbone of modern investigations. For criminal history and behaviour, this can include:
Unlike a DBS check, OSINT can reveal pending court appearances or ongoing cases, not just historical convictions. That can be crucial when making decisions about trust and safety.
A criminal record check - now the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - requires the individual’s explicit consent. Employers use DBS when hiring for sensitive jobs such as teaching, childcare, healthcare, or financial positions. DBS only shows certain past convictions and cautions.
Private investigators cannot apply for a DBS check on your behalf. Instead, we focus on what’s lawfully available in the public domain. This often gives a broader view - for example, if someone has recently been charged or is currently in court, that may not appear on a DBS certificate but can show up in OSINT checks.

Beyond criminal records, reputation matters. We regularly carry out reputation checks for clients which can include:
These checks can highlight patterns of behaviour that might not appear in a DBS certificate but are highly relevant to personal safety, due diligence, or corporate vetting.
Typical reasons to instruct a PI for criminal and reputation background checks include:
Our work is fast, discreet, and always within the law - giving clients peace of mind without breaching privacy regulations.
We cannot and do not access the Police National Computer or any restricted government system. Instead, we build intelligence using OSINT and lawful registers. Key points to remember:
To learn more about our criminal background checks, court record searches, or reputation screening services, please get in touch in confidence.
No. DBS checks require consent and can only be requested by authorised employers or the individual.
Yes, if the appearance is recorded in public listings, news articles, or court databases. Pending cases may appear here before conviction.
Yes, provided it is done using lawful OSINT methods and compliant with GDPR. Investigators cannot hack, trespass, or access restricted databases.
Press reports, court listings, CCJs, bankruptcy records, Companies House filings, online behaviour, and general reputation indicators.
Professionals know where to look, how to cross-check data, and how to ensure information is admissible and compliant.
If you’d like a confidential quote for a background check or reputation screening, contact our experienced team. We operate nationwide and internationally where required.
If you need to serve court paperwork on an individual currently held in His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in the UK, we can help. Our nationwide process serving team handles document service on inmates for a wide range of matters including non-molestation orders, statutory demands, claim forms, possession and eviction proceedings, and divorce petitions.

Common scenarios include landlords progressing eviction against a tenant who has been remanded or sentenced, family proceedings that cannot wait, and civil claims with approaching deadlines. Serving papers correctly on a prisoner protects your timetable and helps avoid adjournments.
Prison visits can be daunting. Our agents are experienced with prison entry, security, and legal visit protocols. Using an independent process server keeps the situation calm and professional and improves the chance of a clean, evidenced serve.
Important: prisoners cannot be forced to attend a legal visit. If the subject declines, a re-booked visit may be needed and further fees can apply. Our success rate is high, but no provider can guarantee cooperation.
If the prison is unknown, the prison service will not disclose locations to private callers. We can run tracing enquiries first to establish the current establishment before booking service.
No. Attendance is voluntary. We maximise the chance by booking correctly, arriving prepared, and documenting any refusal so the court can give directions.
Prisons will not disclose locations to private individuals. If you are unsure which prison holds the subject, ask us about a trace first.
Common items include non-molestation orders, occupation orders, injunctions, statutory demands, divorce petitions, claim forms, possession notices, and committal applications (depending on case).
A signed Statement/Affidavit of Service detailing date, time, prison, identity confirmation, what was served, and the outcome (acceptance or refusal). We can provide supporting details from the visit.
Procedures and terminology vary slightly. We work across Great Britain and Northern Ireland and will follow local requirements for SPS and NIPS establishments.
Ready to proceed? For a free quote, contact us and include the document type and the prison name. We will confirm availability, costs, and the earliest bookable visit.
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