Focus Investigations

Private Investigators based in Devon

Focus Investigations is an Exeter, Devon based professional Investigations Agency based in the south west of England with a nationwide reach to handle investigations throughout the UK.

Focus Investigations is an established investigations and litigation support company that provide a comprehensive service to the legal profession, businesses, local authorities and private clients.

Our core staff have over 50 years combined experience of evidence gathering, surveillance, tracing, process serving, statement taking, accident/locus reporting and criminal & civil investigations.

We are the retained providers of legal support services for many of the region’s law firms and businesses and provide a confidential service to members of the public.

Focus Investigations hold all requisite insurance, are Data Protection registered and our staff and approved agents are regularly DBS checked.

The principal is a full member of the Institute of Professional Investigators and is also a member of the F.A.P. (Fraud Advisory Panel).

Private Investigator Licence

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 introduced licensing for the private security industry. However, at this time the Security Industry Authority, the body set up to manage licensing, has yet to introduce licences for private investigators. Licences have been introduced for other sectors - such as door supervisors, security guards, close-protection officers, CCTV operators.

Licensing was expected to commence in October 2014 and anticipated to be complimented by a Business Licensing regime based on the British Standards Institution code of practice, BS102000.

Unfortunately other matters have distracted Ministers and there has been little Parliamentary update on licensing since 2014. However, in June 2018 The Home Office published the long awaited Review paper. The Review recommends that Business Licensing be applied to the whole security industry and that Investigation be treated as a business for this purpose.

However the recommendations have not yet been implemented, and Investigation remains an unlicenced activity.

Focus Investigations fully supports the licensing of private investigators, which we feel will be of benefit to clients.

Data protection

Focus Investigations is notified under the Data Protection Act 1998 and appears on the Data Protection Public Register

Membership of professional bodies

The Principal of Focus Investigations is a Full Member of the Institute of Professional Investigators.