Can Private Investigators Hack Phones or Social Media?
May 29, 2023 - Reading time: 5 minutes
Updated on: April 6, 2025
As leading private investigators in the UK, we’re regularly contacted by clients asking whether we can help them access someone’s private communications — such as messages, call logs, or social media activity — usually to confirm suspicions of infidelity. Understandably, people want the truth. But does that mean investigators can hack into a phone or messenger app to get it?
Can a Private Investigator Hack a Phone or Account?
No — private investigators cannot legally hack phones, social media accounts, emails, or messenger apps. Doing so without the user’s consent is a criminal offence in the UK and many other jurisdictions.
Please do not contact us requesting any type of phone or social media hacking service — we do not offer or support anything illegal.
Why You Should Avoid So-Called ‘Phone Hacking Services’
We’ve been approached by numerous people who were scammed after paying individuals online who claimed to be “ethical hackers” or “private investigators” that could hack a partner’s phone, Instagram, or WhatsApp. In every case, these services were fraudulent — they either did nothing, disappeared with the money, or kept asking for more.
Any website or person offering mobile hacking, Instagram monitoring, or access to private chats is either a scammer or operating illegally.
Can Private Investigators Trace Phone Numbers?
While we do not offer hacking, tracing phone numbers is a legitimate and separate service. We may be able to trace a number to a name, address, or location — especially when this information supports a legal investigation, such as verifying who is contacting your partner or identifying unknown callers.
How Do Private Investigators Catch Cheaters?
Though we cannot hack phones, we offer effective and legal alternatives to investigate infidelity. These include:
- Personal surveillance to monitor a partner’s activities discreetly
- GPS tracking where legally permissible
- Facial recognition background checks that may uncover dating profiles or adult content
Our surveillance services are entirely lawful, discreet, and can help to confirm suspicions of cheating without compromising your legal standing.
The UK Phone Hacking Scandal
The infamous News of the World scandal highlighted how serious and illegal phone hacking is. Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and editor Andy Coulson were convicted for intercepting voicemails. Coulson received an 18-month prison sentence in 2014.
This landmark case helped establish tighter UK data laws and made it abundantly clear that no reputable private investigator should engage in or offer any kind of hacking activity.
Are You the Victim of Electronic Surveillance?
If you suspect someone is spying on you — either via your phone or in your home — there are steps you can take. Start by:
- Changing passwords on all apps and accounts
- Enabling two-factor authentication
- Factory-resetting devices that may have spyware installed
However, those willing to install monitoring software might also plant physical bugs — such as hidden microphones or cameras.
We Offer Bug Sweeping Services Across the UK
If you suspect that your phone, home, or workplace is under surveillance, we offer professional bug sweep services to detect and remove any unauthorised monitoring devices. We operate across the UK, and in some cases, overseas.
All inquiries are handled in strict confidence. Contact one of our experienced detectives today for a free quote.
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Can Private Investigators Check Criminal Records in the UK?
May 26, 2023 - Reading time: 5 minutes
Updated on: April 6, 2025
As one of the UK’s leading detective agencies, we’re often asked whether private investigators can access criminal records as part of a background check. While surveillance and observation remain a core part of most investigations, many clients also instruct us to run detailed checks on individuals or businesses. But when it comes to criminal histories, what’s actually allowed?
Private investigators in the UK cannot access police criminal records or run DBS checks without the subject’s consent. These records are protected by law and considered confidential. However, we can still uncover valuable information about a person’s background using legal and compliant methods — specifically, open-source intelligence (OSINT).
OSINT refers to any data available in the public domain. This includes media archives, court records, news stories, property listings, and more. These sources allow us to conduct background research without breaching data protection laws or requiring consent from the person being investigated.
For example, a court record search may reveal criminal charges — even those that haven’t yet resulted in conviction — which would not be shown on a DBS check. This can be invaluable in protecting clients and allowing them to make informed decisions.
In one recent case, we were asked to investigate a woman’s new partner before he moved into her home. Our checks uncovered that he had recently appeared in court on sexual offence charges — information not yet included on a criminal record. Our client was understandably alarmed but grateful to have this knowledge before it was too late.
Can Private Investigators Use Facial Recognition for Background Checks?
Yes — another effective OSINT tool is our facial recognition background check. By scanning the web for appearances of a subject’s image, we may locate dating profiles, social media posts, adult content, and even articles or court reports linked to their identity. This method relies entirely on publicly available data and does not require permission.
DBS Checks vs OSINT Checks: What’s the Difference?
A criminal record check — now known as a DBS check (formerly CRB) — requires explicit consent from the individual. These are commonly used by employers, especially when hiring for sensitive roles, such as childcare or healthcare. Only official bodies can submit these applications.
DBS checks only show past convictions — they don’t reveal current investigations or pending court appearances. That’s where OSINT-based court record searches come in. We’re often able to find cases that haven't yet led to convictions but still raise concerns worth knowing.
When Would a Background Check Be Appropriate?
There are many scenarios in which a background check — particularly one involving court record searches or reputation checks — can be highly beneficial:
- Pre-matrimonial or partner background checks
- Employee vetting for sensitive roles
- Tenant background checks
- Nanny or babysitter screening
- Online dating or safety-related checks
Unlike the police, we are not bound by internal red tape when researching publicly available data. We conduct thorough, legally compliant investigations to help our clients make safer, smarter decisions.
How to Get Started
If you’d like a quote for a background check or court record search, contact one of our experienced team members. We’ll be happy to advise you based on your specific needs and location.
Important Notes
Our services do not include DBS checks or access to confidential police records. Instead, our research is conducted via public-domain sources — allowing us to deliver valuable intelligence in full compliance with UK law.
It’s worth noting that some convictions — especially older ones — may not appear due to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Additionally, some sensitive offences may never be publicly disclosed.
Nonetheless, our research methods often uncover details missed by official record checks — especially when those checks are limited by consent or scope.
To learn more about our background check or reputation screening services, please get in touch with us in full confidence. All enquiries are handled discreetly.
Serve Court Papers on Someone in a UK Prison (HMP)
May 19, 2023 - Reading time: 13 minutes
Updated on: April 6, 2025
If you need to serve court paperwork on an individual that is currently being held by His Majesty's Prison (HMP) in the UK, then we can help. Working the length and breadth of Great Britain, and even overseas in some cases, our process serving division helps our clients by serving documents on individuals in a wide range of different cases.
There could be many reasons that you need documents or court paperwork to be served on an individual that is currently being held in a UK prison... For example, landlords that lease properties to individuals who later find themselves being detained in prison, may need to serve documents on their tenant in order to progress eviction proceedings and regain access to their properties.
The service of other documents, such as non-molestation orders, statutory demands, claim forms, or divorce petitions in cases where our client needs to divorce a prisoner in the UK, are all relatively common within prisons.
Why you should choose us
Understandably, many of our clients find the prospect of entering a prison or jail in order to serve documents on an inmate to be a daunting and stressful proposition. Our agents are experienced at serving within prisons, we can take the stress out of the situation by carrying out a serve on your behalf.
Instructing an experienced process server can help to ensure that the serve will be carried out professionally and diligently. Furthermore, the use of an independent third party to serve court papers can often help to have a calming effect on the situation, which in tern leads to the desired result in a fast and professional manner.
Service of documents in prison
In cases where we are required to serve documents or court papers on prisoners, it's important to note that prisoners cannot be forced to attend legal visits; if an agent attends a prison and the subject decides that they will refuse to attend then additional fees will be payable to rebook another visit at a future date.
While our rates of success are high, we cannot guarantee success or the prisoner's amiability towards a service in any particular case.
How to proceed
In order for us to serve documents on a prisoner in the UK, we require the prisoner's full name, date of birth, prisoner number, and the name of the prison which they are currently held in. Please be aware that if the defendant is detained in an unknown prison, then it is unlikely that the prison service will assist by providing information on their current whereabouts. In this case the prisoner's location would need to be established by other means.
We offer free quotes for all work. Please feel free to get in touch with us and mention the type of documents that you need to service, as well as the prison name and location. We will do our best to offer the most speedy and cost effective solution in your case.
Once we have provided a quote which has been accepted, we will then need to receive payment before arranging a prison visit to service the documents... It is not possible to simply arrive at the gates of a prison and request to see a prisoner; a visit will need to be booked in advance. Prison visits often become fully booked quickly, it is therefore advisable to instruct us in as much time as possible in order to ensure a speedy completion.
Contact numbers for prisons & Young Offender Institutes in England and Wales 🏴🏴
- HM Prison Altcourse, Liverpool - 01515 222000
- HM Prison Ashfield, Gloucestershire - 011730 38000
- HM Prison Askham Grange, North Yorkshire - 01904 772000
- HM Prison Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - 01296 444000
- HM Prison Bedford, Bedfordshire - 01234 373000
- HM Prison Belmarsh, London - 02083 314400
- HM Prison Berwyn, Wrexham - 01978 523000
- HM Prison Birmingham, West Midlands - 0121598 8000
- HM Prison & YOI Brinsford, Staffordshire - 01902 533450
- HM Prison Bristol, Bristol - 0117 372 3100
- HM Prison Brixton, London - 020 8588 6000
- HM Prison Bronzefield, Surrey - 01784 425690
- HM Prison Buckley Hall, Greater Manchester - 01706 514300
- HM Prison & YOI Bullingdon, Oxfordshire - 01869 353100
- HM Prison Bure, Norfolk - 01603 326000
- HM Prison Cardiff, Cardiff - 0292092 3100
- HM Prison Channings Wood, Devon - 01803 812060
- HM Prison Chelmsford, Essex - 01245 552000
- HM Prison Coldingley, Surrey - 01483 344300
- HM Prison & YOI Cookham Wood, Kent - 01634 202500
- HM Prison Dartmoor, Devon - 01822 322000
- HM Prison & YOI Deerbolt, County Durham - 01833 633200
- HM Prison & YOI Doncaster, South Yorkshire - 01302 760870
- HM Prison Dovegate, Staffordshire - 01283 829400
- HM Prison Downview, Surrey - 0208196 6300
- HM Prison Drake Hall, Staffordshire - 01785 774100
- HM Prison Durham, County Durham - 0191332 3400
- HM Prison East Sutton Park, Kent - 01622 785000
- HM Prison Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire - 01454 382100
- HM Prison Erlestoke, Wiltshire - 01380 814250
- HM Prison Exeter, Devon - 01392 415650
- HM Prison Featherstone, Staffordshire - 0300 0606502
- HM Prison/YOI Feltham, London - 0208844 5000
- HM Prison Ford, West Sussex - 01903 663000
- HM Prison Forest Bank, Greater Manchester - 0161925 7000
- HM Prison & YOI Foston Hall, Derbyshire - 01283 584300
- HM Prison Five Wells (Wellingborough Prison), Northamptonshire - 01933 718888
- HM Prison Frankland, County Durham - 0191376 5048
- HM Prison Full Sutton, East Riding of Yorkshire - 01759 475100
- HM Prison Garth, Lancashire - 01772 443300
- HM Prison Gartree, Leicestershire - 01858 426727
- HM Prison Grendon, Buckinghamshire - 01296 445243
- HM Prison Guys Marsh, Dorset - 01747 856586
- HM Prison & YOI Hatfield, South Yorkshire - 01405 746500
- HM Prison Haverigg, Cumbria - 01229 713000
- HM Prison Hewell, Worcestershire - 01527 785000
- HM Prison High Down, Surrey - 0207147 6300
- HM Prison Highpoint, Suffolk - 01440 743100
- HM Prison Hindley, Greater Manchester - 01942 663234
- HM Prison Hollesley Bay, Suffolk - 01394 412 400
- HM Prison Holme House, County Durham - 01642 744355
- HM Prison Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire - 01482 282 200
- HM Prison Humber, East Riding of Yorkshire - 01430 273000
- HM Prison/YOI Huntercombe, Oxfordshire - 01491 643100
- HM Prison/YOI Isis, London - 0203 3564324
- HM Prison Isle of Wight (Albany), Isle of Wight - 01983 634000
- HM Prison Kirkham, Lancashire - 01772 675400
- HM Prison Kirklevington Grange, North Yorkshire - 01642 792600
- HM Prison Lancaster Farms, Lancashire - 01524 563450
- HM Prison Leeds, West Yorkshire - 01132 032600
- HM Prison Leicester, Leicestershire - 01162 283000
- HM Prison Lewes, East Sussex - 01273 785100
- HM Prison Leyhill, Gloucestershire - 01454 264000
- HM Prison Lincoln, Lincolnshire - 01522 663000
- HM Prison Lewes, East Sussex - 01273 785100
- HM Prison Leyhill, Gloucestershire - 01454 264000
- HM Prison Lincoln, Lincolnshire - 01522 663000
- HM Prison Lindholme, South Yorkshire - 01302 524700
- HM Prison Littlehey, Cambridgeshire - 01480 335000
- HM Prison Liverpool, Merseyside - 0151 5304000
- HM Prison Long Lartin, Worcestershire - 01386 295100
- HM Prison & YOI Low Newton, County Durham - 0191 376 4000
- HM Prison Lowdham Grange, Nottinghamshire - 0115 966 9208
- HM Prison Maidstone, Kent - 01622 775 300
- HM Prison Manchester, Greater Manchester - 0161 817 5600
- HM Prison Moorland, South Yorkshire - 01302 523 000
- HM Prison Morton Hall, Lincolnshire - 0300 303 0649
- HM Prison New Hall & YOI, West Yorkshire - 01924 803 000
- HM Prison Northumberland, Northumberland - 01670 383100
- HM Prison North Sea Camp, Lincolnshire - 01205 769 300
- HM Prison Norwich, Norfolk - 01603 708 600
- HM Prison Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - 0115 872 4000
- HM Prison Oakwood, Staffordshire - 01902 799 700
- HM Prison Onley, Warwickshire - 01788 523 400
- HM Prison & YOI Parc, Mid Glamorgan - 01656 300200
- HM Prison Pentonville, London - 020 7023 7000
- HM Prison & YOI Peterborough, Cambridgeshire - 01733 217500
- HM Prison & YOI Portland, Dorset - 01305 715 600
- HM Prison Prescoed, Monmouthshire - 01291 675 000
- HM Prison Preston, Lancashire - 01772 444 550
- HM Prison Ranby, Nottinghamshire - 01777 862 000
- HM Prison Risley, Cheshire - 01925 733 000
- HM Prison & YOI Rochester, Kent - 01634 803 100
- HM Prison Rye Hill, Northamptonshire - 01788 523300
- HM Prison Send, Surrey - 01483 471 000
- HM Prison Elmley (Sheppey Cluster), Kent - 01795 802 000
- HM Prison Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster), Kent - 01795 884 500
- HM Prison Swaleside (Sheppey Cluster), Kent - 01795 804 100
- HM Prison Stafford, Staffordshire - 01785 773000
- HM Prison Stocken, Rutland - 01780 795 100
- HM Prison & YOI Stoke Heath, Shropshire - 01630 636 000
- HM Prison & YOI Styal, Cheshire - 01625 553 000
- HM Prison Sudbury, Derbyshire - 01283 584 000
- HM Prison Swansea, Swansea - 01792 485 300
- HM Prison Swinfen Hall, Staffordshire - 01543 484 000
- HM Prison Thameside, London - 020 8317 9777
- HM Prison The Mount, Hertfordshire - 01442 836 300
- HM Prison The Verne, Dorest - 01305 825 000
- HM Prison Thorn Cross, Cheshire - 01925 805 100
- HM Prison Usk, Monmouthshire - 01291 671 600
- HM Prison Wakefield, West Yorkshire - 01924 612000
- HM Prison Wandsworth, London - 020 8588 4000
- HM Prison Warren Hill, Suffolk - 01394 633 400
- HM Prison Wayland, Norfolk - 01953 804 100
- HM Prison Wealstun, West Yorkshire - 01937 444 400
- HM YOI Werrington, Staffordshire - 01782 463300
- HM YOI Wetherby, West Yorkshire - 01937 544 200
- HM Prison Whatton, Nottinghamshire - 01949 803 200
- HM Prison Whitemoor, Cambridgeshire - 01354 602350
- HM Prison Winchester, Hampshire - 01962 723000
- HM Prison & YOI Woodhill, Buckinghamshire - 01908 722 000
- HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs, London - 020 8588 3200
- HM Prison Wymott, Lancashire - 01772 442000
Contact numbers for prisons & Young Offender Institutes in Scotland 🏴
- HM Prison Addiewell, West Lothian - 01506 874500
- HM Prison Barlinnie, Glasgow - 0141 770 2000
- HM Prison Castle Huntly, Perth and Kinross - 01382 319329
- HM Prison & YOI Cornton Vale, Stirling - 01786 832591
- HM Prison Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway - 01387 261218
- HM Prison Edinburgh, Edinburgh - 0131 444 3000
- HM Prison Glenochil, Clackmannanshire - 01259 760471
- HM Prison & YOI Grampian, Aberdeenshire - 01779 485600
- HM Prison Greenock, Inverclyde - 01475 787801
- HM Prison Inverness, Highland - 01463 229000
- HM Prison Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire - 01563 548800
- HM Prison Low Moss, East Dunbartonshire - 0141 762 9500
- HM Prison Perth, Perth and Kinross - 01738 622293
- HM Prison/YOI Polmont, Falkirk - 01324 711558
- HM Prison Shotts, North Lanarkshire - 01501 824000
Contact numbers for prisons & Young Offender Institutes in Northern Ireland
- HM Prison Maghaberry, County Antrim - 028 9261 1888
- HM Prison Magilligan, County Londonderry - 028 7776 3311
- HM Prison Hydebank Wood, County Down - 028 90253849
- Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre, County Down - 028 9185 4600
Can Private Investigators Trace IP Addresses?
January 13, 2023 - Reading time: 6 minutes
Updated on: April 7, 2025
As a leading UK detective agency, we’re frequently asked whether private investigators can trace IP addresses — and the answer depends on a few important factors. From tracing debtors and fraudsters to investigating online harassment, we often assist clients who only have limited digital clues to go on. But how far can an IP address really take you?
While IP addresses can offer some insights, private investigators in the UK do not have access to subscriber data held by internet service providers. This means that we can only trace an IP address using information that’s legally available in the public domain.
Tracing IP Addresses via Data Leaks
In some cases, we’re able to trace an individual through their IP address if it appears in a publicly available data breach. For instance, if someone signed up to an online retailer and their IP address was logged alongside their name, email, or home address — and that database was later compromised — we may be able to connect the dots.
However, not all IP addresses appear in data leaks, and the presence of shared IPs, dynamic IPs, or proxies can complicate matters. It’s not always 100% reliable, but in certain cases, this method can provide leads.
Tracing IP Addresses via Subscriber Data
Subscriber data includes the name, address, and contact details associated with an internet connection. This information is held by the user’s ISP (Internet Service Provider) and is not accessible to private individuals or investigators due to data protection laws.
To obtain subscriber data legally, a court order or subpoena is required — typically issued by a solicitor or law enforcement. In civil cases, clients may choose to engage a solicitor to request this information through official channels.
Can Authorities Trace IP Addresses?
Yes. Police and other law enforcement bodies routinely trace IP addresses in the course of criminal investigations. ISPs retain logs of which users were assigned which IPs at a given time, allowing them to match a connection to an individual.
Private investigators do not have the same legal powers as police officers. We cannot compel ISPs to disclose subscriber details, but we can help you assess your options and investigate using lawful means.
What Information Can Be Found from an IP Address?
Without ISP cooperation, here’s what can generally be gathered from an IP address:
- Approximate city or region
- Country of origin
- Internet Service Provider (ISP) name
For example, we might be able to determine that an IP is linked to a user in central London, using BT Internet. However, we will not be able to identify their specific street or building without access to ISP records.
What If They’re Using a VPN or Proxy?
If the individual is using a VPN, proxy, or the Tor network, tracing becomes far more difficult. These tools are specifically designed to mask true IP addresses, making accurate geolocation virtually impossible in most cases.
Can You Find GPS Coordinates from an IP Address?
Some online tools claim to offer pinpoint GPS tracking via IP address. In reality, these services often provide nothing more than the general city or region — sometimes using default coordinates for the centre of a city.
For example, a trace of a London-based IP might return the coordinates for Trafalgar Square, not the user’s actual location. To trace an IP to a precise address or GPS location, subscriber data is needed — and again, only obtainable via legal channels.
Image: GPS coordinates 51.5072° N, 0.1276° W. Credit: Google Maps
What We Can Do
While we cannot request subscriber data ourselves, we can assist by:
- Checking if an IP address appears in publicly available data leaks
- Investigating digital footprints associated with that IP
- Advising on next legal steps if further escalation is needed
In some cases, we may also help to locate individuals through alternative OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) methods, combining IP data with additional clues to build a broader profile.
Need Expert Help Tracing Someone?
If you’re trying to track someone down online — whether it’s a fraudster, missing person, or anonymous user — we may be able to assist. All of our investigations are carried out legally and discreetly by experienced UK-based detectives.
For a free consultation, contact us in confidence. We’ll assess your case and advise you on your options.
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