These Private Detectives!

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

These Private Detectives!

rE private detective to-day occupies an important place in the commercial and social life of the country. But the man in tie street knows little of what goes on tehind the frosted plass door bearing thi words "Private Investigations," found in so many office buildings. A majority of the jublic believes that the services of the private detective are retained only in divorce cases; that he spends his time inooping about tryinw to secure "evid<nce of misconduct" and in taking "prelminary statements" from hotel servants

By Ex-Detective Inspector Hardd Brust

This may be true of a small number of agents, bi> the detective of any standing is ret particularly interested in the normal divorce suit unless it presents sone special feature of interest. There are two types of private detective in Enrland. The type you can trust and -he type that should be put out of busness; who is dangerous. It mu» be remembered that most people mike use of the services of the private investigator when, for some reason >r other, they cannot use the services of the regular police. Usualy their business is of an extrerwly private and personal nature, and tJsv are both foolish and unlucky if thy entrust themselves and their affair' to individuals who may, at some time in the future, blackmail them —a proces which is not at all unknown! Tfe reliable and successful private inveitigator is often a retired police officr who has risen to a position of re sensibility in the regular police or detetive forces. His man has a pension at stake, and he is not likely to do anything to jeo>ardise it. Also, he is thoroughly cowersant with police routine; he k»ws how to organise to investigate. fl/Tnlc —under the Official Secrets Act —ao serving officer may give information to a former colleague, he can still, on occasion, pass a tip to an old friend. The private detective must have an exhaustive record system. He must be in touch with all sorts and conditions of people; he must have a highly-trained staff capable of dealing with" every type of inquiry from a lost pet dog to the theft of thousands of pounds worth of insured jewellery. His staff must consist of men and women of every class who can "mix well in all grades of society. He must keep in touch with all new police and criminal organisation. Life in much faster these days and his organisation must keep pace with it. He will be a member of several creflit and trade inquirv oiganisations so that he can obtain quick outlines of the credit and trade characteristics of commercial "suspects." and. lie must organise ana keep up to date his own first-class filing 6ystem.

More than once I have found a "needle in a haystack" by a careful search through the files of old cases in my own office. Roughly the work of the private detective is made up of the following types of cases in order of their financial importance to him: Young Women Cases.—Young women who have disappeared; young women of position whose parents or guardians believe them to be unduly emotional about some "not-so-good" man; young women whose legal representatives arc worried about "where the money is going!" Commercial Cases.—lnvestigations into "office leakages;" bribery and "secret commissions" investigations. Suspected thefts from office organisations. Special trade inquiries. Blackmailed Women.—There is still a considerable amount nf blackmailing of women in this country whatever may be said to the contrary. In many cases women who ere advised by the private investigator to go to the police still refuse to do so, in spite of the fact that their names are invariably withheld in court and that the Press co-operate with the police in nonpublication of prosecutor's names. Blackmailed Men.—Now more rare and often unusual in character. Agency Investigations.—These are investigations in this country on behalf of foreign agencies with whom the British agency exchanges service. Must Have His Client's Bona Fides This system enables the English investigator to be adequately represented in all big cities throughout the world. . , ... Owing to the peculiar nature of his business the private investigator will not accept important cases until he has satisfied himself with the bona fides of his client. This process may save him a great deal of trouble. If he is uncertain of a prospective client he will first make a check-up and assure himself that everything about the case is in order before accepting the investigation. Some ago I was approached by a young man who wished me to undertake an important investigation in Buenos Ayres. Expense, he said, was no object; but he stipulated that I handled the case personally. The result of my check-up on this prospective client was surprising. He had approached me 1 with the offer of « big fee if I would personally act in the Buenos Ayres case simply to get me out of the country so that T should not undertake an entirely different investigation in which he was illegally involved.

Ex-Detective Inspector Harold Drust was one of the most distinguished members of the Special Branch. During his service he Was responsible on different occasions for the personal safetv of the late King Edward VII., ex-King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, the late King Ferdinand of Rumania, the late Mr. Bonar Law, the ex-Kmg of Spain and manj> other notabilities. To-day he controls an International Investigation Service.

He had somehow discovered that the injured parties had planned to put their case in my hands, and was prepared to wav* Se fee to = et nie ol,t of the People who wish to use the services of private investigators should make caretul inqu.ries about the reputation ol the people they consider employing. t It is not unknown for a so-called private detective" to work on a case conclude it, receive his fee, and then two or three months afterwards, pass on the information about the client to some crook who promptly proceeds to work a blackmailing act! Working of a Blackmailing Act The client then goes back to the "private detective" for advice, and the detective advises settling the matter for a sum of money. He also sends in a fresh bill. This is a racket" which has been successfully worked on many people who would rather pay than face a threat of exposure. No responsible private detective desires to accept cases which should be properly handled by the regular police forces; but sometimes he does so for a client's sake. There are still a great many people who have an unholy fear of "a "police uniform and would rather unburden their souls to a private individual. In such cases the detective will probably pass on such information as may be necessary to the- proper department so that, when lie can eventually persuade his client to accompany him on •a visit to the authorities, the matter is in order. In this connection the police perform many quiet services which do not receive publicity. There is not the slightest official connection or co-operation in this country between the regular police and private agencies. In the United States, where a citizen who has reported a burglary to the police will probably call in at least one firm of private investigators. the regular police and the private "dicks" will work together on the same case and swap clues! And they will both be assisted by a couple of crime reporters from two or three newspapers. This system produces some amazing results, as in the case of a bank robbery that took place two years ago, when a private investigator employed independently by the bank worked up a castiron charge against, and secured the arrest of, the police lieutenant in charge j of the case!

In the United States private detectives are licensed. Their licenses are renewable yearly, when any complaint official or otherwise, may be made against them, and, if proved, their license is cancelled.

I think it would be a good thing if the same system obtained in this country. It would force out of business some of the "private detectives" who batten on the fears of foolish people, and it would enable the responsible agencies to co-operate in their work.

Responsible agents in this country are usually experienced, tactful and careful men and women, who take a proper pride in the conduct of their business.

If you ever need the services of a private detective any good firm of lawyers will tell you where to go.