Council Suggests Controversial PI Job -- Again
AUSTRALIA - City Council in Melbourne is again suggesting that the city pay private investigators to investigate illegal brothels. The controversy comes from the fact that the PIs are paid to have sex in the brothels to gather evidence. Council is claiming that PIs are the only option, since the State Government and police no longer take action against illegal brothels. At least six councils were paying private investigators roughly $1,500 and $3,000 earlier this year for each investigation into brothels. After the practice was revealed by media, Melbourne City and Yarra halted the practice. However, new allegations that illegal brothels are thriving has council considering renewing the contested PI investigations.

Source: The Age, June 28, 2007
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Solid Energy and PIs Come Under Fire
AUSTRALIA - In Australia, a lobby group known as The Save Happy Valley Coalition is crying foul. The group is seeking to have a private investigation company prosecuted. The problem stems from the fact that Solid Energy allegedly hired Thompson & Clark Investigations to spy on the lobby group. The private investigation firm paid students - who were not registered or licensed as investigators - to infiltrate and spy on the lobby group. Ryan Paterson-Rouse and Somali Young were the two students. In addition to a possible civil suit, the case has been referred to as an official complaint to the Private Investigators Registrar.

Source: Newswire, June 27, 2007
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Alberta Private Investigators Also On the Hot Seat
CANADA - In Canada, the Alberta privacy commissioner will investigate allegations that the Energy and Utilities Board committed a wrongdoing when they hired private investigators to monitor angry landowners. As PInow.com reported last week, the property owners were angry about a proposed 500-kilovolt power line that the Energy and Utilities Board wanted to erect between Edmonton and Calgary. It is still unknown whether any action will be taken against the PIs or the board in this case.

Source: 770 AM, June 26, 2007
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport Looks to Hire Investigators
IOWA - Plagued by claims of sexual abuse by its priests, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is considering hiring a private investigator to check into the allegations. After losing a decision in a jury trial and after facing a number of sex abuse lawsuits, the diocese was forced to file bankruptcy last fall. The diocese has asked the bankruptcy court to hire a PI, arguing that it does not have the expertise to deal with the allegations that continue to be made.

Source: Sioux City Journal, June 23, 2007
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Not Everything That Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas
NEVADA - Private investigators in Nevada are kept busy in Las Vegas with cases of cheating spouses and insurance fraud, according to media reports released this past week. According to local PIs, some tourists assume that the ads promising full discretion will keep them safe, but suspicious spouses back home will often hire investigators to check up on their partners. Local PIs are also kept busy with workers comp surveillance cases, workplace investigations, body guard services, and loss prevention. Currently, there are 191 private investigators licensed in the state. There were 131 last March, according to the state Private Investigator Licensing Board.

Source: Las Vegas Business Press, June 22, 2007
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Ex-Officers Found Guilty in Surveillance Case
ENGLAND - Two men, including former police offer Scott Gelsthorpe of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), were found guilty of conspiracy to cause unauthorized modification of computer material and conspiracy to intercept communications unlawfully. The charges stem from work the two men carried out for Active Investigation Services (AIS). In their job, they had computer networks and phones monitored for clients. According to reports, AIS used high-tech IT equipment and sophisticated bugging equipment to spy on clients.

Source: Adfero, June 27, 2007
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