A private investigator based in Hull has lifted the lid on the world of surveillance.

Whether it's checking up on love cheats or bugging business meetings, he has seen it all.

You might not have known until now, but one of the country's best private investigation firms is based right here in Hull.

I-Spy Private Investigator Hull is situated right in the middle of Hull city centre, in Savile Street.

This hub for some of the UK's top surveyors is under the nose of many Hull folk and the PIs go about their daily business without a second look from anyone else.

One private investigator from the firm opened the lid into the work they do, exclusively for Hull Live.

The 34-year-old investigator, who cannot be named for obvious reasons, started working for I-Spy three years ago after spending more than 11 years in the Army.

I-Spy was the first private investigating company he worked for, and he said he is still very much enjoying the job.

He said: "I was in the Army in the infantry and it was like this but obviously I was doing more work in fields than tracking cars. I did my training to be a private investigator when I left the army. I work in Hull but can go anywhere in the world and I've travelled to Guernsey and the Isle of Man as part of the job.

"When I first started, I went out with a few of the other agents to see what they did and how they did things."

Constant surveillance

The PI said he takes part in many different jobs, including tailing cheating parters, scoping out offices for corporate clients and even bugging business meetings.

He said: "The majority of the job is surveillance. We've got people working on insurance frauds, claim validations, mystery shopping and observations. We can do a bit of everything for corporate clients. We don't just do checks on cheating partners.

"We sweep offices for bugs and things like that when someone is having a meeting. We do that quite a lot. We can do everything. The right equipment goes hand in hand with the job."

The PI said everything about being a the job "comes down to training" and as they are often left watching people for hours at a time.

He said: "You have to learn to change your clothes in a vehicle. Also, you can be on a job in the car for long periods of time, and sometimes up to 48 hours doing observations so you cannot leave the car to do anything - not even go to the toilet. You have to take everything with you including food and drink because you don't know how long you will be there for.

"I've never been busted by anyone while on a job. When that starts happening, you know thats when you're coming to the end. Everything we are taught is to keep standards up.

'We always get the job done'

"It doesn't feel like you are James Bond really. No one would admit that. It is all professional, covert, discreet, and always with the client in mind. There's no violence or anything like that involved, but we manage to get the job done."

The investigator said PIs are free in a way the police are not, as they are not governed by government funds.

He said: "If anything, we have a bigger budget, and it is down to the client and how much they can pay. If someone comes to us with a budget in mind, we do our best to work with it."

He said some of his friends and family know what he does, but he has to keep most of it under wraps.

"It comes from the Army," he said. "It's other people's private lives and people respect that. The job is the job and we do it to the best of our ability and you don't take it home.

"The best bit is bringing about the justice. There is nothing better than that in the world and in cases where someone suspects their partner is cheating and you are able to confirm that, it's the recognition."

The PI said the client is updated on "everything" that happens during the case by their own case manager. Once the case is over, they are given an evidence report - but what happens next is up to the client.

He said: "As soon as the client has got it it's up to them. A lot of them try to move on but obviously it is a case-by-case basis. It's all real life and it is so unpredictable."

When he finally gets time off, the investigator "chills out" as anyone would.

He said: "I go see my friends and family. Again, it's just like being in the Army when you get time off. The money is a lot better, and so is the lifestyle and it is such a grown up world, it's not like the Army in that respect.

"It is something I can see myself doing for a long time. As long as I can walk, drive and run I can do it but you can move to different areas like data tracking and we have a dedicated trailing department, asset checking and profiling.

"People in these areas have done things like 24 years in the Army or police force in intelligence and are now doing this."

For more news, click here

But hiring these investigators does not come cheap.

An investigation done by I-Spy can set you back from £100 for a trace or up to £30,000 to £40,000 for a long-term observation.

He said: "The price range is obviously quite dramatic but it comes down to the client and what they want and need. We are happy to work with a budget."

You can contact I-Spy by visiting its website here or calling 0800 0029153 or 07399884635.

Follow all the latest news by our court reporter Sophie Corcoran




sophie facebook.jpg 

Follow Hull Live




