What does a private detective do?

Private detective = private investigator

To be allowed to work as a private investigator (private investigator or private investigation agency), we must first be a certified private investigator. In addition, we must be in possession of a permit issued by the Ministry of Justice and Security and have the approval of the police chief duties.

A private investigator is hired when there is a need for evidence, and this can occur in a variety of situations. In all these situations, finding the truth is central, and we strive to do this as objectively and professionally as possible.

We strictly adhere to standards and codes of conduct and guarantee the privacy of everyone involved. In the Netherlands, our industry is carefully monitored and regulated.

What we can and cannot do

As one of the few sectors in the Netherlands, private detectives, also known as private investigation agencies, have the authority to collect facts of a criminal nature. This is the main reason for hiring a private investigator. If you were to have a fraud case investigated by an external company that does not have this authority, there is a risk that the evidence obtained will be declared inadmissible. This is because the evidence of criminal offenses would then have been obtained unlawfully.

For the rest, our powers depend on the nature of the assignment, but in general it can be said that we must adhere to the same laws as any other citizen. Below is a list of things we may or may not do:

• The use of hidden cameras in private research is generally not allowed, especially in homes or other private spaces where people expect their privacy. Filming in publicly accessible areas is usually not considered a serious invasion of privacy
• Remote listening devices are prohibited and may not be used, even for private assignments. Only the police may eavesdrop, with permission. Secretly placing listening equipment in a car or home is not permitted. However, you can make audio recordings of conversations in which you participate. Our agency can responsibly store these conversations and provide a transcription of the recording.
  
• Placing a GPS tracker on a car is permitted under certain circumstances, for example to improve the safety of tracking. However, this may only be done in secret if the car is used for business purposes. This is not permitted for private assignments.
• It is not allowed to hack or install spyware without the knowledge of others. On the other hand, we may collect information about people from public sources. However, this action usually requires consent from the data subject, unless there is a legitimate interest as stated in the GDPR.