1. Who We Are
London Private Investigators (LPI) provides professional investigation services. For relevant processing LPI acts as a data controller under UK data-protection law; in some organisational instructions the precise role depends on the circumstances.
2. Whose Information We May Process
Clients and prospective clients; investigation subjects; spouses/partners and family members; employees/workers; directors/business associates; witnesses; connected persons; individuals identified through public records or OSINT; incidental third parties; suppliers/professional contacts; and website visitors.
3. Information We May Collect
Identification/contact information; photographs; identity details; client-supplied information; surveillance observations; photographs/video; dates, times, locations and movements; vehicle information; addresses and associations; employment/business information; directorships; public financial/property information; social-media/online information; public records; OSINT; lawful professional research information; investigator notes/reports; and website/device/cookie data.
4. Special Category and Criminal-Offence Data
Some investigations may necessarily or incidentally involve special category data or information about convictions, allegations, suspected offences, fraud, theft, harassment or proceedings. Such data is processed only where necessary and where the applicable UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 conditions are met.
5. Sources
Information may come from clients, investigator observations, public records, public/open online sources, professional research services, corporate records, lawful third-party sources, legal representatives and other lawful sources relevant to an investigation.
6. Purposes
Purposes may include responding to enquiries; assessing instructions; performing investigative services; surveillance; background/due-diligence work; tracing; fraud/misconduct investigations; safeguarding-related work; evidence preservation; reporting; client communications; protecting legal rights; legal claims; preventing/detecting unlawful activity where applicable; security; accounting/compliance; and operating the website.
7. Lawful Bases
Depending on purpose and circumstances, LPI may rely on contract, legal obligation, legitimate interests, recognised legitimate interests where a statutory recognised condition actually applies, consent where appropriate, or another lawful basis. Special category and criminal-offence information requires the additional conditions prescribed by law. No single lawful basis is assumed to cover every investigation.
8. Investigation Subjects and Transparency
Investigative work often involves people who are not clients. In some circumstances, providing information at the time of processing could prejudice the legitimate purpose of an investigation or another person's rights. LPI will rely on a statutory exemption only where its legal requirements are met; exemptions are not treated as automatic.
9. Sharing
Where lawful and necessary, information may be shared with the instructing client, authorised investigators/researchers, specialist providers, professional advisers, solicitors/barristers, courts, law enforcement, regulators, insurers, IT/hosting/communications/storage providers and other parties where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
10. International Transfers
Where providers process information outside the UK, LPI will use appropriate safeguards required by UK data-protection law, such as adequacy arrangements or approved contractual safeguards where applicable.
11. Security
LPI uses appropriate technical and organisational measures, which may include access controls, secure cloud storage, passwords, multi-factor authentication, device security, restricted case access, confidentiality obligations, secure transfer and secure deletion.
12. Retention
Unsuccessful enquiries: normally up to 12 months after last meaningful contact.
Final reports and essential case records: normally up to 6 years after closure where necessary and proportionate.
Raw surveillance photos/video: normally reviewed/deleted within 12 months unless needed as evidential material.
Raw background/trace/research material: normally reviewed/deleted within 12 months unless continued retention is necessary.
Irrelevant/unnecessary information: deleted earlier where reasonably practicable.
Identification documents: deleted when no longer required unless continued retention is justified.
Financial/accounting records: retained for applicable tax, accounting and legal periods.
Longer retention may apply for complaints, litigation, police/regulatory matters, safeguarding, legal obligations or legal claims.
13. Individual Rights
Depending on circumstances, individuals may have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection, portability and rights concerning certain automated decision-making. These rights are not absolute and lawful investigative exemptions may apply. Requests are considered individually.
14. Requests and Complaints
Data-protection requests may be sent to info@londonprivateinvestigators.com and identity may need to be verified. Individuals may also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
15. Cookies
The website may use necessary cookies and, where applicable, analytics or other non-essential technologies. Where legally required, non-essential cookies should be used only in accordance with applicable consent requirements and the site's cookie-management facility.
16. Changes
This policy may be updated to reflect changes in services, processing, technology or law. The current version and update date will be published on the website.
You will not be judged, pressured or rushed. Speak with an investigator, explain your concern, and we will tell you honestly whether an investigation would help.
All enquiries are handled privately and respectfully. You can contact us even if you are only seeking advice.