The following News article relates to surveillance work we have undertaken over the past month and provides a perfect example of how even in a recession staff are still out their abusing their positions and your trust.

Enquiry One

Who is supervising the Supervisor?

Our client, a local authority, was concerned that a safety supervisor was, failing to confirm their contractors compliance and was also making false claims on expenses. Their internal investigation was not conclusive to enable disciplinary action.

Our surveillance team was therefore dispatched to follow the target for a total of four days, spread over two weeks. The amount of enquiry time would prevent the counter allegation that this was a ‘one-off’ event.

The target, unbelievably, only undertook a couple of hours work a day. The majority of his time was spent at home.

Our daily video evidence and reporting kept the client up to date. The final report was accompanied with DVD’s of the evidence obtained by the two operatives.

At the end of a subsequent two day disciplinary hearing the target resigned as the evidence was overwhelming.

A very successful operation. Our client provided the following comment:

‘Many thanks for your slick and professional service. ‘

Enquiry 2

Sick and still so sporty!!

Our client, a private company, was concerned that an employee who they were wishing to speak to about performance suddenly went sick with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A disorder, which is seemingly impossible for a doctor to diagnose, but an illness that if genuine can cause great discomfort.

Our team of operatives therefore carried out the observation and the results are as follows:

Day 1 – 18 holes of Golf and pub lunch

Day 2 – Visit to doctor for new sick note (further 7 days), visit to garden centre and collection of heavy building materials for DIY.

Day 3 – Bike ride 2.5 hours

Day 4-  1hour 20 minutes tennis match.

This is one of our best ever examples of abuse of trust whilst sick, in twenty years of trading. The employer actually spoke to their member of staff on day two when they were advised of the extra sick days. The staff member even added how they were in terrible discomfort and unable to leave the house. The employer at that time was in possession of still shots of the previous days golf outing.

In addition to these cases the abuse by staff in respect of sickness was highlighted by the Financial Times in their article relating to Swine flu, namely ‘Flu rise points to Monday Sickies’.

www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f59de59a-97dd-11de-8d3d-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

Both enquiries were undertaken by WM, without the knowledge of the target as measures were put in place prior to each operation to ensure that only a few employees knew of the action. If the target was found to be surveillance conscious (due to the recent increased scrutiny) and made an effort to see if they were being followed we introduced counter measures such as change of vehicles and other professional surveillance techniques.

Our client in the first case was a Local Authority and a private company in the second. In each case full consideration was made to a recent decision by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (“RIPA”). This decision has implications for the way the police, local authorities and the wider public sector carry out surveillance of employees. It also means that those doing or advising on such surveillance will have to have a greater understanding of the Data Protection Act 1998. (See previous news with regard Data Protection qualifications within WM)

DO YOU UNDERTAKE PRE EMPLOYMENT SCREENING? IF NOT, WHY NOT?

THESE TARGETS, AND MANY MORE LIKE THEM, ARE NOW LOOKING FOR WORK!!!