Inside the world of private investigators
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DETECTIVE FOLLOWED ME ALL DAY WITHOUT ME KNOWING Walking to the bus stop, the last thing you'd imagine is that the man casually strolling along at five paces behind you is filming your
every move. Following you. Taking note of everyone you talk to, and writing down your conversations. But that's exactly what happened to Lifestyle Editor Felicity Thistlethwaite who
was 'tracked' for a whole day by a private detective agency in London. To celebrate the release of London Spy on DVD, unsuspecting Felicity was followed, filmed and photographed
for seven hours by InTime Investigations. The leading surveillance experts demonstrated exactly how easy it is to trace the average person’s movements. RELATED ARTICLES The company offers a
wide range of investigation techniques for the wondering wife or suspicious husband. For just £45/hour, you can pay for the company to undertake 'surveillance'. > I thought
I'd know if someone was filming me but I wasn't aware of > the detective at all > > Felicity Thistlethwaite Background checks will set you back a mere £285.00 or you can
have a vehicle tracked for anything above £550. On the day Felicity was followed, it was a simple case of tracking her movements - and the results were incredible. Armed with a Covert
Camera Recorder, DSLR camera and various other equipment, the detective managed to follow the 27-year-old from her house, onto the tube and all the way to work without raising suspicion.
Speaking about the day in question, Felicity said: "I knew at some point that week I was going to be followed for research - so I had a heightened awareness of my surroundings. Despite
this, I didn't see a thing. "I'm shocked. I truly believed I'd know if someone was filming me or taking my picture in public but I wasn't aware of the detective at
all." After trundling to work completely unaware she was being followed, Felicity nipped out of the building to meet a friend. INTIME An Express.co.uk journalist was tracked for day as
part of an investigation INTIME The private investigator followed Felicity from her home to work, without her noticing The detective followed her and her friend to a near-by bar where they
got close enough to the pair to listen into their conversation and report back about what they drank, where they went and how 'animated' the conversation was. After receiving the
report, it was clear the detective had been filming under a table and had close-up shots of Felicity's friend. The report read: "The male has been tactile with the SOE on the walk
often touching the SOE. They both seem quite comfortable in one another’s company. "After taking a seat the male approaches the bar, buys two drinks and returns to the table. They
continue engaged in what appears to be animated conversation." INTIME Felicity and her friend were spotted having a drink by the P.I After six hours of being followed, Felicity was
handed a 17-page report documenting her every move that morning. It included 50 pictures, a 15 minute video and two maps showing her route to work and where - exactly - she went with her
friend that afternoon. Scary? Yes. Felicity said: "I didn't think this sort of thing happened in real life. Yeah, in the movies it seems like fun but actually being followed -
without knowing about it - is scary. "Would I use it? Maybe. You know what they say about a scorned woman…" Legally speaking, technically surveillance could be a 2A offence of
stalking under the Protection of Freedom Act 2012 - and that act amends the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. But it would be fair to say it would be very difficult to convict a PI. The
House of Commons Home Affairs Committee published a report on private investigators in 2012 in which they admitted 'No one knows precisely how many private investigators there are in
the UK'. The discussion came about after the phone-hacking scandal. There is an on-going debate into whether or not PIs should be regulated more heavily. The news comes after THESE
women went viral, but can you see why? INTIME Her friend was papped going to the bar and ordering two large non-alcoholic drinks Leon Hart, Managing Director of InTime Investigations told
Express.co.uk: "First things first, carrying out surveillance in a public area - any company or any individual is allowed to do that. "The same as when you employ a builder or
plumber, they need to be registered with a governing body. The private investigation sector isn't particularly governed. What we would always suggest, when instructing an investigator,
is to ensure they belong to the World Association of Private Investigators (WAPI) or the Council of International Investigators (CII). "Also, the company should be registered with the
Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and that is in relation to data protection laws. We're registered with all these." What concerns did Leon have with unregulated,
off-the-cuff private investigators? He said: "As a professional company it's frowned upon when other companies are using inappropriate methodology. "We regularly hear of
investigators obtaining information they shouldn't, and investigators that overcharge and don't provide the information the client requires. "It's the same with any
company or trade, there will be cowboys out there." LONDON SPY IS AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM 2ND MAY 2016, COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES (UK).