Private Investigators

[gonfishing]

Hi
A friend of mine was involved in a road accident and is in the middle of a legal battle, he is convinced that he is being Watched and Tailed by a coule of P.I.'s In this day and age are they allowed to do this? He also seems to think that photographs are being taken when he is with his Children going to and from School surely this is not legal??

Your opinions please.

 

[l'escargot]

On public property anyone can watch or photograph anything to a reasonable degree. Only if it crosses the line and becomes harassment can it be stopped. Harassment without contact can be difficult to prove and if it is a (reputable) PI he will know how to operate within the law. If he thinks he is being harassed report it to the police but they will want specifics, tell him to start keeping a diary of occurences.

 

[jhr]

I'm not a lawyer, but I'd say that the PIs are not breaking the law as it stands, unless:

They are in some way invading your friend's privacy - bugging his house or trespassing on his property, for example;

Their behaviour could be construed as harassment, or

They are acting unreasonably in some other way.

There's nothing to stop them taking photos of his children (unless invading privacy or harassing, as above) but they'd probably be in trouble if they published them in some way, such as by posting them on the internet, or selling them to the Editor of International Car Crash Weekly for publication, particularly if the children were identifiable in some way.

All imho. From a tactical viewpoint, I suggest your friend tries speaking to the suspected PIs, and tries to establish what they are doing and whose instructions they are acting on - but I'd only recommend that if he is going to be able to keep his cool with them. Alternatively, he could hire a PI to follow the other PI's, take photos of them with their children, etc. and see how they like it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Hi Julian - perhaps your friend could turn the tables on them. he could take a small digi camera out with him and photograph them. Given that there is no law to stop them doing this to him, he can do it back.

 

[Kevin]

Take out your own camera and take pictures of them making sure to catch their faces and tell them you will circulate them to anyone who is interested in seeing them, possibly affecting their covert snooping careers, Im sure there must be some dodgy websites that would upload them for people to take a look at

alternatively snap some shots of them and go to the police and say some strangers are taking pictures of his children, this may well lead to the PI's having to explain to the police what they are doing and in turn the police will have to reassure your friend that they werent taking pictures of his children but were taking them for whatever reason they are, giving your friend possible insight into what they are trying to snap

 

[Lakesailor]

The only times it is illegal to take photographs is,
<ul type="square"> [*]When you have entered private property (without express permission, such as in a private garden or shopping centre, although that would depend on the amount of public access normally allowed to the area), [*]Of a Crown Court (when it is sitting), [*]Of any place covered by the Official Secrets Act, [*]Or when having being instructed not to by a Police Officer (but that would have to be able to be backed up by a statute, such as the act would have caused a breach of the peace etc). [/list]
Even the case of the Crown Court is ignored - witness the news smudgers chasing prison vans at the Old Bailey. But photographers have to be aware that many things have changed in society and the innocent act of photographing children at play or a political rally may attract the attention of a Constabule. The publishing of a picture of someone taken in a public place alone is not illegal. Recent cases seem to give some right of privacy to individuals, but it is more to do with the inference given to the image than the fact it is published.

 

[Sammo]

It’s the age we live in, everyone is blameless
Any insurer will tell you Don’t admit anything. but this can also work against you when the other chap does it.
Arm yourself with a mobile with built in camera, it’s difficult to argue against a photograph.
It sounds like your friend is making an injury claim, if it’s authentic let them watch him.
I don’t see why he should have a problem with that.

...............

 

[Parsonsheath]

Fairly standard practice, they insurers want to know that the guy with the major injuries ins not able to trampoline with the children, etc.

Photos of him are probably OK, but not the children. In this day and age when I cannot take a photo of my grandchildren in a public place, and cameras are banned from school plays etc.,I think he should complain to the police immediately.

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
...[*]Of any place covered by the Official Secrets Act...

[/ QUOTE ]

Even this has changed. Until quite recently I worked in an establishment with big government signs saying "No Photography" which up until a few years ago was enforced to the extent of removing film from cameras of anyone that was caught. It then changed to the extent that we could take no action whatsoever if they were stood on the public approach road and we could only ask them to move if they were stood on government land. We could take no action over the photography even if it was taken while the were stood on the government land. This was despite having the powers of a constable.

 

[hlb]

Ah but. I once photoed a policeman at a Saudi border and lost all my film. Dont know if this is any help at all!!

 

[Seafort]

A place I worked used P.I's. "Caught" a group of employees on the panel working elsewhere. After taking advice they resigned.....go figure /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Your friend should point out the camera carrying people to MOTHERS dropping thier kids off at school. It would soon become rather difficult for them to carry on that particular activity.

Presumably your friend has nothing to hide,so report the strange happenings to the school too.

Dave.

 

[tcm]

yeah, why not? If the claim is for masive damages the other side will want to know exctly how incapable he is of leading a normal life.

You can tell if they are PI's by the fact that they will have different characteristics, such as one being black and fat, the other white and short, for example, also they will be driving a '76 Camaro.

 

[adey]

The law changed recently. If you report that you suspect someone is stalking you it's up to them to prove that they're not and not up to you to prove that they are. Just the mention of the words 'school' and 'kids' will ensure a very swift response.

 

[l'escargot]

So if I phone up the police and say Adey is stalking me, you have to prove you're not?

 

[adey]

Essentially, yes, if you feel like I'm stalking you I'll be spending a good hour at my local station explaining why I have a large telescope pointing at the Isle of Wight.. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif