Is the Private Investigations Industry Out of Control?

by PI Telegraph, September 22, 2012

I lament the article in today’s Daily Telegraph entitled ‘Private detectives are out of control in Britain’. Although the article, written by Jake Wallis Simons, a well-respected journalist and author, is an effective piece of persuasive writing; for me, the subject matter is somewhat tired and worn – an old chestnut which brings nothing new to the ‘table’ in respect of issues within our industry.

Whatever there is to say about the private investigation industry has already been adequately explored and analysed by public enquiries such as the ‘Leveson enquiry’. And as a consequence is in the process of being addressed by means of the implementation of a licensing scheme.

We are all more than aware of the previous activities of Southern Investigations as well as one or two other individuals that were employed by journalists; therefore to continue to bring their activities into play whenever a newspaper article is written only goes to show that Southern Investigations and those individuals are in the minority – illustrating that illegal activities are not the norm within our industry.

Contrary to what Jake Simons says, the reputation of the private investigation industry has by no means taken another turn for the worse this week; rather, it is the reputation of Southern Investigations that has slipped further into the mire. The majority of private investigators in the UK can still operate with their head held high knowing that what they provide is a valuable and entirely legal service to their clients.

As private investigators we are perhaps not familiar or comfortable in dealing with attention from the media. We naively believe that when we are contacted by a journalist for help with ‘their story’ that somehow it is a chance to get some PR – some free media exposure. Perhaps we will get a chance to appear on TV or maybe the name of our agency will appear in mainstream print.

Consider this before you ask an investigative journalist on a ‘ride along’: it is not the job of a journalist to act as your publicist. Why would a journalist, who is in search of a ‘scoop’, be concerned with your public image? Journalists are not there to write nice things about you or your agency – good news does not sell newspapers or hook viewers. Bad news and controversy is what sells news. The exposure that results from an ‘uninformed’ handling of the media very rarely results in positive PR – it more often than not ends in crisis for you and your business.

Next time you think to invite a journalist to ‘shadow’ you on confidential assignments or feel the urge to share your trade secrets – think again and be mindful that nothing is ever off the record.