Private Investigator

[NoMorePain]

Please could anyone advise.. my brother in law has been accused of historical abuse. Are we allowed to hire a PI?

Much thanks in advance..

[Rights Fighter]

You can but you have to be VERY careful as to who you choose.

Beware of those who call themselves "legal enquiry agents" who brag that they have won 148 out of 149 (although the figures change) and charge an absolute fortune for the privilege of introducing you to a QC. One will sometimes will admit to charging £500 for one witness statement.

Some pretend to be specialist in false allegations (and one claims to have been falsely accused themselves, pretending they have been in prison and "got myself out") or the other story he tells is that he was falsely accused (usually of the rape of an important person) but were found not guilty after investigating it themselves, when in fact he has absolutely no idea what he is doing.

Often the evidence you need can be ordered via the courts in any event and you may have wasted a lot of money asking for them to obtain information that would be obtainable at no cost via other ways.

[Mrs Forgetful]

I echo the post above. You have to be so careful as there are some real chancers out there who will promise the earth take your money and then do nothing.

I think I recognise the description of the one person above. It sounds very much like the guy who has scammed a couple of people I've heard about in prison one in particular, whose family paid out £KKKs for an appeal that failed. He pretended he had won 148 out of 149 cases then that changed to wining 248 out of 249.

he brags about his material possessions too and asks how much your house is worth, what car you drive etc etc before he gives you a quote. When you complain he says things like "your sons on the sex offenders register so don't make me an enemy". I think he relies on the shame of the allegations and convictions so that people won't make official complaints against him.

Please be really really careful