Ph: 1300 GET PROOF or 1300 438 776 - 24 hour service, our phones are answered by real people and a licensed investigator will discuss your matter with you free of charge.
Mobile: 0418 220 250 PLEASE ONLY USE THIS MOBILE NUMBER IN VERY SERIOUS AND VERY URGENT MATTERS OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS HOURS. WE HAVE A FULLY STAFFED OFFICE AND WE ARE CONTACTABLE ON THE ABOVE NUMBERS 24X7 365 DAYS A YEAR.
A MESSAGE FROM THE OWNER
MORE ABOUT LYONSWOOD
DIAMONDS ARE NOT THIS GIRLS BEST FRIEND Posted 01/Apr/2011
CAREFUL! EVEN PHOTOS TAKEN BY MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER GPS ENABLED PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICES CAN IDENTIFY THE TIME DATE AND PLACE IT WAS TAKEN. Posted 20/Jan/2011
BOSSES BYTE BACK TO PROTECT SECRETS Posted 15/Oct/2010
RESUME LIES ARE COMMON Posted 13/Aug/2010
INTERNET IDENTITY FRAUD Posted 13/Aug/2010
PET DETECTIVE-V- POLICE Posted 12/Aug/2010
LYONSWOOD INVESTIGATIONS AND FORENSIC GROUP TO THE RESCUE Posted 29/Jun/2010
Cyber poison-penner hunted down and sued Posted 25/Feb/2010
LYONSWOOD INVESTIGATIONS AND FORENSIC GROUP WORKS ON FAMOUS COLD CASE Posted 31/Jan/2010
Accused killers face justice 36 years after murder file lost Posted 23/Jan/2010
WEB BUYERS BEWARE Posted 18/Dec/2009
Warren Mayor and Assistant Police Commissioner Posted 25/Nov/2009
CYBER CRIMES - WHO CARES? Posted 2/Nov/2009
PONZI HAUL WAS R12BN Posted 27/Oct/2009
PROUD MOMENT FOR M.D. Posted 27/Sept/2009
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Posted 18/Sept/2009
WHAT PRICE JUSTICE Posted 10/Sept/2009
PRIVATE EYES DREAD RETURN TO OLD DIVORCE RAID DAYS Posted 14/July/2009
PERCEPTION-V-REALITY - PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS AND POLICE-BUILDING BRIDGES Posted 4/Apr/2009
E-CRIME VICTIMS TURN TO PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS FOR HELP Posted 17/Jan/2009
Blood from mosquito traps Finnish suspect Posted 23/Dec/2008
TRACKING & SPY GADGETS-ARE THERE BENEFITS, IS IT LEGAL? Posted 16/Dec/2008
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING Posted 1/Dec/2008
C.A.P.I. ACT REVIEW- NSW MINISTRY FOR POLICE Posted 02/Aug/2008
NEW ZEALAND - PIs could arrest and charge Posted 18/May/2008
Law Enforcement and the Private Investigation Industry Posted 04/Apr/2008
The Changing Role of a Private Investigator Posted 30/Oct/2007
Asset Tracing Posted 30/Oct/2007
Workers Compensation Investigations Posted 30/Oct/2007
The Missing Persons Problem Posted 29/Oct/2007
The Rotten Buggers! Posted 29/Oct/2007
LYONSWOOD INVESTIGATIONS AND FORENSIC GROUP INVOLVED IN UNION INVESTIGATION Posted 28/Sep/2007
DIAMONDS ARE NOT THIS GIRLS BEST FRIEND
Hi, I just want to report a man, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx a dating scammer, who scammed me out of $3000 on Friday 1/4. I have learnt my lesson not to join dating sites. I thought I was pretty good at spotting the scammers, but he was very cleaver. Said he lived in Perth, was working in London on oil rig doing job, then flying to Dubai to by diamonds and gems, for his retirement back here in Australia. He had me believe he was arrested in Dubai for not having the right paper work at the airport and needed $46,000 to get the documents so they would release his passport. He had some other guy pretend to be the customs officer and he was very convincing, really had a go at me to help him out before he was jailed.
I don't believe you can get my money back, I just want him tracked down and pay for his crime, I know that will be impossible.
ADVICE
It is not impossible to track down these scammers however it is very expensive and considering the sum scammed, the costs would far outweigh the benefit, even on moral grounds. We have all become so enamoured and trusting of the internet and governments around the world have done nothing to protect an ever increasing number of victims, some just lonely, others vulnerable because of social isolation or disabilities and some just plain greedy.
It’s an easy thing to rectify, we need to prove our identity if we want to drive a car, yet to drive the fastest vehicle in the world, the internet, you need not prove anything and with total anonymity just jump on board and manifest yourself in the lives of others without ever being brought to justice. It ‘s not good enough to just expect that everyone is bright or not vulnerable and to say that it’s your fault if you fall for a scam. Its a cop out by Governments all around the world who won’t take on the large corporations involved in the internet industry.
CAREFUL! EVEN PHOTOS TAKEN BY MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER GPS ENABLED PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICES CAN IDENTIFY THE TIME DATE AND PLACE IT WAS TAKEN.
Date of posting 20th January 2011
Recent technological advancements have now allowed persons to right click onto a photo stored on a phone or computer and to determine the GPS co ordinates of that photo with an accuracy of within 4 metres. Thus, if you have taken photos near your home, of your home or valuables and placed these on Facebook, by simply right clicking onto that photo, a person may be able to get more information than you would want them to have. The GPS co ordinates and time and date can be displayed. All sorts of security risks can arise from this. Be careful what you place on the internet or what you send to others.
BOSSES BYTE BACK TO PROTECT SECRETS
Date of posting 15th October 2010
RESUME LIES ARE COMMON
Date of posting 13rd August 2010
INTERNET IDENTITY FRAUD
Date of posting 13rd August 2010
The below e-mail communications set the scenario between an owner of a dog that has proof of the identity of the persons responsible for its theft via video footage of that theft and the absolutely brainless approach that the police were going to take in an attempt to recover their dog from the thieves. It beggars belief but makes the reader aware of two things,
1. Just how careless and irresponsible some law enforcement officers can be
2. The growing prevalence of this kind of fraud.
Be careful with your pets, particularly if they are sought after species. Thieves target dogs because they know they have a micro chip. The micro chip identifies the name and address of the owner. Once they steal your dog they can do a number of things. They can follow you to your address, wait a period, search the local news paper for a reward advertisement and then approach you with an exorbitant request of additional money to return your dog. They can just wait a couple of weeks until you are in despair over the loss and take the dog to a vet and await your attendance and pretend to have found the animal and request payment for care of the animal.
Remember there are options to be taken other than the police. You should always make a report to the police however don’t expect a great deal of attention to your matter. Private investigators are keen to have your business and want to succeed.
From: Chris Wright [mailto:chris@XXXXXXXXXX.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 8:53 AM
To:
Subject: RE: Investigation
Hi ,
Thanks for your advice and assistance with this. Minnie my dog was dropped at Kogarah vet on Thursday by the people that took her. They waited for me to arrive in an attempt to claim the reward we had publicised. This is a big racket overseas and it looks like it is growing here unfortunately.
The Police have still not been to the house of the registered vehicle owner – we will be making an official complaint about their pathetic inaction. We could not possibly give them more information or spoon feed them more but they have not even made contact with the offenders let alone lay charges. I agree with your comments below that if they had of approached directly anything could have happened to the dog.
Once again thanks for your assistance and professionalism with this matter.
Best Regards,
Chris
From: Lachlan XXXXXXXXXXXXX@investigators.net.au]
Sent: Thursday, 5 August 2010 11:45 AM
To: Chris
Subject: FW: Investigation
Chris,
I have just spoken to Warren Mallard, our director. He has been in contact with the woman you hired to find your dog. We understand you now have footage of the people putting the dog into their car and a number plate. Apparently, the police are going to ring the people or openly communicate with them to determine whether they have the dog!!! This is madness. We need to be able to do surveillance on the premises to prove that there is a dog at the address. Urge the police not to directly approach the people as this may give them ample opportunity to hide or dispose of your dog in any way they see fit.
Regards,
Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic Group
Recently I read a plea by a journalist in the local paper to assist in the location of the owner of a large sum of money. Some clever investigation managed to locate all the data required to assist the journalist in that successful location.
Warren Mallard
Managing Director
Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic Group.
Owner of ASIC unclaimed money register's $709,000 found
-
John Rolfe, Public Defender
-
From: The Daily Telegraph
-
June 29, 2010 10:43AM
THE owner of the largest sum of unclaimed money in NSW -- $709,000 -- has been found.
And he doesn't live in the Sutherland Shire but that, as it turns out, was a good place to start.
The first clue was a tip that the street he had resided in at Dolans Bay was Gannons Rd. So I letterbox-dropped the residents.
Private investigator, Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic Services managing director Warren Mallard, read of my endeavours.
He ran a series of database searches and sent me a list of all the people who had lived in Gannons Rd in recent times.
I began what I thought would be the time-consuming task of plugging up to 750 names into the ASIC unclaimed money search engine.
Luckily, the second name I put in the search engine proved a match -- but only on the surname.
I then got a Google match on a 2007 death notice. Only the first line was available. I dug up the edition, which gave me the complete details.
But the death notice said he lived in the UK.
So I put the names of other relatives mentioned in the death notice into whitepages.com.au.
The first name came up as being in Gannons Rd. I searched for the number of the other relative and there was one in the ACT.
I rang that number and a woman said yes, she did have a brother matching that name in the UK. I called him.
I established I had found the right person. Then I told him that he was owed $709,000 and I'd found it.
Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic Group is the only Private Investigation company in Australia with a dedicated Forensic Data Discovery Division. There are other Forensic Data companies but none that have 40 years of investigation experience coupled with 20 years of digital and forensic data acquisition. We are also Government Licensed and work very closely with law firms who are competent in this expanding commercial law field.
This story below is indicative of the reason why we have established our Forensic Data Discovery & Recovery Division. The crimes of the future will mostly be carried out in the Cyber Medium placing great demand upon companies like Lyonswood to facilitate the forensic acquisition of data.
We are currently involved in many matters that have reached the point of litigation and where data has been discovered by us linking individuals to crimes involving child pornography, murder, intellectual property theft, malicious statements and defamation.
Cyber poison-penner hunted down and sued
TONY WRIGHT
February 25, 2010
LEGAL counsel Martin Bennett has a short message for those who allow themselves to attack reputations over the internet, imagining they are safe under the cloak of anonymity. ''You can be hunted down and found,'' he said yesterday.
Mr Bennett has done just that for a Perth client, winning $30,000 in damages and costs, an apology, and undertakings from a Colac man that he won't post any more defamatory comments.
The hunt for the man's true identity proved the stuff of private detective novels updated into the age of blogs.
It is, Mr Bennett said, one of a very few such actions in Australia against the author of anonymous postings on an internet forum. He predicts it is the tip of a legal iceberg.
''There has been an increasing proliferation of internet chat sites where people feel free to hide their identities and make defamatory comments about companies and their executives and directors,'' he said in a statement released after the case in the Supreme Court of Western Australia was resolved.
The action against Graeme Gladman began after highly uncomplimentary comments appeared last November under pseudonyms on the HotCopper website, a stockmarket forum.
The postings related to technology security company Datamotion Asia Pacific Ltd and its Perth-based chairman and managing director, Ronald Moir. One posting appeared under the pseudonym of ''witch''.
Datamotion and Mr Moir hired Mr Bennett to launch defamation proceedings. But first Mr Bennett had to track down ''witch''. He asked HotCopper to reveal the identity of the person registered under that pseudonym, plus two others under different pseudonyms, but HotCopper refused.
Mr Bennett then took court action, forcing HotCopper to turn over its files. ''Unfortunately, the registered membership name appeared to be false,'' he said. ''It turned out to be attached to an escort service in Geelong.''
But Mr Bennett was not prepared to concede the trail was cold. He told The Age he did not wish to reveal the details of his next detective steps, but the upshot was a defamation action against Mr Gladman alleging that, as a result of his postings, Datamotion and Mr Moir had been ''brought into hatred, contempt and ridicule and thereby suffered damage''.
It was resolved last week, with Mr Gladman agreeing to pay damages totalling $20,000, taxed legal costs of $10,000, and to provide apologies and undertakings not to publish further defamatory postings.
Mr Bennett has launched two more cases. Both are pending before the WA Supreme Court.
Source: The Age
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Los Angeles police "lose" a murder file for 36 years
Comment from Australia
A 36-YEAR-OLD murder mystery involving Patricia Galea, the then-wife of Sydney racing identity Bruce Galea, looks set to be unravelled following the arrest of two Americans accused of killing her during a home invasion robbery in Hollywood. But even if the two accused, John Threlkeld, 57, and Leonard Turner, 64, are convicted, another more profound question remains unanswered: why did it take so long to arrest the two, who were identified at the time of the incident?
Los Angeles police have said the file containing the names of the suspects was somehow "lost" and for decades the two remained at large, until an accidental discovery of the file four years ago. So extraordinary is the lapse that a lawyer defending the men has tried to find whether there was any sinister influence in the series of events, including the misplacement of the file.
The defence lawyers have commissioned a Sydney private inquiry agent, Warren Mallard, of Lyonswood Investigations, to find out all he can about Ms Galea's life in Australia and her connections here. Ms Galea, then 24, a Sydney beauty, left her 10-month old baby, Emily, in the care of her husband while she travelled to the US. She was intent on setting up in business in the Hollywood-Beverly Hills area and in March 1974 returned to Australia to get $6402 in funds. Ms Galea leased an apartment in N. Alta Loma Drive, West Hollywood, which she shared with a 22-year-old rock musician, Eugene Synegal. On April 14, Ms Galea and four friends, including Mr Synegal, left to catch a plane to New Orleans, leaving her flat and her dog in the care of Kristine Murphy, 24.
At 1.30 am on April 15, three men, described as "Afro-Americans", buzzed the apartment from the entrance to the building. One of them said he was "Sonny", the name of Ms Murphy's former boyfriend. She let them in and opened the apartment door to be confronted by a pistol. The men tied up Ms Murphy and began ransacking the flat. Ms Galea and her friends missed their 2 am flight and returned to the flat between 2.30 and 2.45 am. When they buzzed on the intercom, the robbers forced Ms Murphy to let them in, then attacked them, apparently trying to cut Ms Galea's throat.
Ms Galea screamed: "Please don't kill me!" One of the robbers pushed a .410 shotgun into her mouth and pulled the trigger. Another stabbed Ms Murphy in the neck. Camela Bussey, 30, jumped from a window to the ground, breaking her leg. Mr Synegal had his throat cut, Mercury Washington, 27, was wounded in the throat and Dinel Smith, 25, was bashed in the head with a rifle butt. All except Ms Galea survived.
The robbers escaped with $US400, two diamond rings, a cigarette lighter valued at $US1400 and two mink coats. They missed Ms Galea's $6402, which was hidden in her freezer. The same day, police interviewed four women, not involved in the incident, who all knew Threlkeld. Nothing was established to connect them and they were released. But police did discover that it was "common knowledge" among Ms Galea's friends, and Threlkeld himself, that Ms Galea had the relatively large amount of money.
When news of the murder reached Australia, Bruce Galea was overcome by shock and grief. "The bludgers just let go … They shot her!" he said.
Police discovered that three of the surviving victims knew Threlkeld, including Mr Washington, who said Threlkeld had been his friend, and who also knew Turner. Ms Bussey knew Threlkeld and said the other two robbers came from the Detroit area.
Threlkeld and Turner fled in Ms Murphy's white Ford Pinto, which they abandoned in Mexico. On April 17, 1974, the district attorney signed a complaint against the offenders alleging murder, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. The same day, Judge George Zuker, of the Beverly Hills Municipal Court, signed warrants for the arrest of Threlkeld, Turner and the third man, given the name "John Doe" and otherwise unidentified.
Threlkeld and Turner were tracked down to Detroit, where they were being held on other charges. Detroit County law officials said Los Angeles could have them after they were dealt with in Detroit. At this point, according to the detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Division, the murder warrants for Threlkeld and Turner were "somehow" removed from their case files, and nothing happened for decades.
In late 2005 or early 2006, the owner of the apartment building in West Hollywood, making inquiries into its history, came across the murder and robbery and wanted to find out more.
Detectives could not find the paperwork and referred the matter to their cold case unit, specifically to a retired detective working with the unit, Robert Barrier. Mr Barrier found that the district attorney's file on the case was also missing. But through a check of names, addresses and social security numbers, he was able to identify Turner and Threlkeld. It was not hard to find them. Both had been taken into custody in August 2007. One was in prison, while the other was on parole. Since the events of April 1974, they had racked up convictions for armed robbery, bank robbery and manslaughter.
Why had it taken so long? "The ball was obviously dropped somewhere along the line," a detective said this week. "We can't tell exactly where, because the paperwork can't be found."
Threlkeld and Turner will appear in court in Beverly Hills on February 5 on charges of armed robbery and murder. There have been defence motions to dismiss the case, claiming the belated filing of the charges amounts to a denial of the pair's constitutional right to a speedy trial. In their search for new evidence, the defence is casting a very wide net.
Accused killers face justice 36 years after murder file lost
MALCOLM BROWN AND GERARD WRIGHT SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Date of posting 23th January 2010
Murdered in Hollywood in 1974, aged just 24 ... Patricia Galea at the Randwick autumn carnival in 1972.
A 36-YEAR-OLD murder mystery involving Patricia Galea, the then-wife of Sydney racing identity Bruce Galea, looks set to be unravelled following the arrest of two Americans accused of killing her during a home invasion robbery in Hollywood.
But even if the two accused, John Threlkeld, 57, and Leonard Turner, 64, are convicted, another more profound question remains unanswered: why did it take so long to arrest the two, who were identified at the time of the incident?
Los Angeles police have said the file containing the names of the suspects was somehow ''lost'' and for decades the two remained at large, until an accidental discovery of the file four years ago.
So extraordinary is the lapse that a lawyer defending the men has tried to find whether there was any sinister influence in the series of events, including the misplacement of the file.
The defence lawyers have commissioned a Sydney private inquiry agent, Warren Mallard, of Lyonswood Investigations, to find out all he can about Ms Galea's life in Australia and her connections here.
Ms Galea, then 24, a Sydney beauty, left her 10-month old baby, Emily, in the care of her husband while she travelled to the US. She was intent on setting up in business in the Hollywood-Beverly Hills area and in March 1974 returned to Australia to get $6402 in funds.
Ms Galea leased an apartment in N. Alta Loma Drive, West Hollywood, which she shared with a 22-year-old rock musician, Eugene Synegal. On April 14, Ms Galea and four friends, including Mr Synegal, left to catch a plane to New Orleans, leaving her flat and her dog in the care of Kristine Murphy, 24.
At 1.30 am on April 15, three men, described as ''Afro-Americans'', buzzed the apartment from the entrance to the building. One of them said he was ''Sonny'', the name of Ms Murphy's former boyfriend. She let them in and opened the apartment door to be confronted by a pistol.
The men tied up Ms Murphy and began ransacking the flat. Ms Galea and her friends missed their 2 am flight and returned to the flat between 2.30 and 2.45 am. When they buzzed on the intercom, the robbers forced Ms Murphy to let them in, then attacked them, apparently trying to cut Ms Galea's throat.
Ms Galea screamed: ''Please don't kill me!'' One of the robbers pushed a .410 shotgun into her mouth and pulled the trigger. Another stabbed Ms Murphy in the neck. Camela Bussey, 30, jumped from a window to the ground, breaking her leg. Mr Synegal had his throat cut, Mercury Washington, 27, was wounded in the throat and Dinel Smith, 25, was bashed in the head with a rifle butt. All except Ms Galea survived.
The robbers escaped with $US400, two diamond rings, a cigarette lighter valued at $US1400 and two mink coats. They missed Ms Galea's $6402, which was hidden in her freezer.
The same day, police interviewed four women, not involved in the incident, who all knew Threlkeld. Nothing was established to connect them and they were released. But police did discover that it was ''common knowledge'' among Ms Galea's friends, and Threlkeld himself, that Ms Galea had the relatively large amount of money.
When news of the murder reached Australia, Bruce Galea was overcome by shock and grief. ''The bludgers just let go … They shot her!'' he said.
Police discovered that three of the surviving victims knew Threlkeld, including Mr Washington, who said Threlkeld had been his friend, and who also knew Turner. Ms Bussey knew Threlkeld and said the other two robbers came from the Detroit area.
Threlkeld and Turner fled in Ms Murphy's white Ford Pinto, which they abandoned in Mexico. On April 17, 1974, the district attorney signed a complaint against the offenders alleging murder, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. The same day, Judge George Zuker, of the Beverly Hills Municipal Court, signed warrants for the arrest of Threlkeld, Turner and the third man, given the name ''John Doe'' and otherwise unidentified.
Threlkeld and Turner were tracked down to Detroit, where they were being held on other charges. Detroit County law officials said Los Angeles could have them after they were dealt with in Detroit.
At this point, according to the detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Division, the murder warrants for Threlkeld and Turner were "somehow" removed from their case files, and nothing happened for decades.
In late 2005 or early 2006, the owner of the apartment building in West Hollywood, making inquiries into its history, came across the murder and robbery and wanted to find out more.
Detectives could not find the paperwork and referred the matter to their cold case unit, specifically to a retired detective working with the unit, Robert Barrier. Mr Barrier found that the district attorney's file on the case was also missing. But through a check of names, addresses and social security numbers, he was able to identify Turner and Threlkeld.
It was not hard to find them. Both had been taken into custody in August 2007. One was in prison, while the other was on parole. Since the events of April 1974, they had racked up convictions for armed robbery, bank robbery and manslaughter.
Why had it taken so long? ''The ball was obviously dropped somewhere along the line,'' a detective said this week. "We can't tell exactly where, because the paperwork can't be found."
Threlkeld and Turner will appear in court in Beverly Hills on February 5 on charges of armed robbery and murder. There have been defence motions to dismiss the case, claiming the belated filing of the charges amounts to a denial of the pair's constitutional right to a speedy trial. In their search for new evidence, the defence is casting a very wide net.
Date of posting 18th December 2009
Last-minute Christmas gift dilemmas are becoming a worry of the past thanks to online shopping. But it’s definitely a case of buyer beware. Angus Street spoke to Drummoyne private investigator Warren Mallard about shopping safely online.
Q How big an issue are fraud and internet scams during the Christmas period?
A Nothing today is secure when you are talking in terms of information technology systems. Obviously people are going to purchase more online as they look for that perfect gift, but they must remember that by taking some basic precautions to protect their personal information they will reduce the chance of fraud and disappointment of financial loss when goods are not received.
Q What’s the biggest scam hitting internet users?
A A lot of people using eBay are getting caught by sellers using fake BPAY accounts. Often a fake email is sent saying that the money has been transferred into their account and then, once the item has been sent, they find out that the money was never transferred and the item for sale has already been handed over. It’s important that people understand that there are both purchaser and vendor scammers out there on the web.
Q What are the telltale signs of a scam?
A Consumers must remember that if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is and they’re going to get ripped off. If the vendor isn’t disclosing their location or is becoming increasingly agitated during the buying process then you may want to think twice about doing business with them. Also keep an eye on dodgy email addresses and whether the website offers secure transactions by using encryption technology to transfer information from your computer to the online merchant’s computer.
Q What protective measures can people take to stop themselves getting ripped off?
A Firstly, by exercising caution and sound judgement you are always going to save time and money. Before purchasing, do some research on the merchant so that you can be confident that you are transacting with a business you can trust and one that won’t rip off your credit or debit card details. Watch out for spam emails, never give a date of birth or other personal identifiers, always keep records of the transaction and only purchase goods from reputable traders.
Q What are the chances of getting your money back?
A Extremely low, even if the police become involved and identify the perpetrator. Shoppers must take some of the responsibility and look more into who they are doing business with.
Warren Mayor and Assistant Police Commissioner
Date of posting 25th November 2009
I would like to thank Assistant Commissioner NSW Police, Catherine Burns, Warren Mallard Private Investigator and M.D. of Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic Group and Acting Inspector Charles Boustani from Burwood Local Area Command for attending the Safe in Canada Bay forum and their tips on how to be aware and stay safe.
|
Mayor Angelo Tsirekas |
Assistant Commissioner Burns NSW Police |
Warren Mallard Lyonswood |
Inspector Boustani City of Canada Bay NSW Police |
CYBER CRIMES WHO CARES
Date of posting 2nd November 2009
Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic group was instructed in this matter by a South African victim of the scheme who was recommended to Lyonswood through a South African Law Firm. Lyonswood gathered valuable intelligence to allow for furtherance of this matter and to facilitate thorough investigation of the suspects. It is good to see the South African authorities being proactive and rounding up the suspects.
Arrest warrants out for Tannenbaum and lawyer cohort, says minister
Oct 27, 2009 9:46 PM | By ANTON FERREIRA
Police issued arrest warrants for fraud suspects Barry Tannenbaum and his lawyer Dean Rees - who, it has emerged, have allegedly scammed people in eight countries of more than R12-billion.
Barry Tannenbaum
Photograph by: BEN RUSHTON
Credit: Sydney Morning Herald
Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan made the announcementin Parliament while delivering his medium-term budget policy statement.
He said the "Ponzi" scheme that Tannenbaum and Rees allegedly ran involved financial transactions of more than R12.5-billion, and that "one individual" - who he did not name - had made more than R800-million out of it.
It was initially believed that the two men, together with lawyer Darryl Leigh, had fleeced 400 people of about R2-billion.
But Gordhan revealed yesterday that "the scheme involved at least eight foreign jurisdictions in which this washing of money took place".
Tannenbaum is accused of orchestrating the scheme along with Rees and Leigh.
Investors were offered returns of up to 219% a year for funding the purchase of pharmaceutical ingredients to be resold for the production of antiretroviral drugs.
Last month a government task force led by the Asset Forfeiture Unit was granted an order in the North Gauteng High Court, freezing R44-million in the bank accounts of Leigh and the Darryl Leigh Trust.
Tannenbaum is believed to be living in Sydney, Australia, while Rees is allegedly in Switzerland.
Leigh remains in the country and it is not clear whether he will face charges.
The three have been living the high life. Rees rents a property in Zurich at a cost of R1-million a month and owns several Ferrari sports cars and a Mercedes-McLaren super sports car worth more than R18-million.
Leigh - who allegedly earned huge commissions - has a 2008 Lamborghini Murcielargo worth R5-million and a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo worth R3.5-million.
The National Prosecuting Authority will refer the warrants to Interpol in order for them to have effect around the world, according to SARS spokesman Adrian Lackay. - Additional reporting by Sipho Masondo
It is with a great amount of pride that I display this newspaper clipping regarding my brother Garry Mallard. Gary has worked tirelessly and without recompense over many years to provide support to public housing tenants. This OAM ‘Order Of Australia Medal’ is not easy earned and is well deserved recognition for his selfless efforts. Well done mate.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Date of posting 18TH September 2009
ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT FOR LYONSWOOD INVESTIGATIONS AND FORENSIC GROUP
It is with a great sense of pride and achievement we announce that Lyonswood was recently selected by the NSW State Parliament House Security Manager to provide Investigation and Security Services to the House and Members. It is heartening to know our achievements and diversification within the investigation field are being rewarded. This recognition is once again testimony to the integrity , ability and professionalism of Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic Group.
Lyonswood is also the Investigation company preferred by the Dept Of Foreign Affairs and often recommended to Nationals and Internationals through Australian, American and British Government Departments and Intelligence agencies.
As a broad based investigation company we not only have a strong skill-set base amongst our licensed investigators, we are able to react to situations promptly and competently, reducing risks and minimising costs and collateral damage.
We take this opportunity to thank all of Lyonswood’s Loyal Staff and operatives.
Warren Mallard
Managing Director
I was recently contacted by a male who was obviously distressed. He explained that he had received a threatening call on his business answer service and that he was frightened for his safety. I asked whether he could play that message so that I could assess it. I listened to that call and it was obviously someone attempting to disguise their voice and was obviously directed at the man that called me as the message left mentioned his name and business name. In brief, the message made certain demands and comments of a threatening nature, “I will send my mates around to fix you up” .
He asked whether I could trace the call. I advised him that this really was a police matter as they are the only ones in the State that could lawfully trace the call and identify the caller. To my surprise the caller explained that he had already been to the police and this was why he was calling me. He explained that the police sent three officers to his business and after listening to the call explained that they would need to get advice from a senior officer as to the action they could take.
Later that day he received a call from one of the police that attended who explained that the cost of $220.00 the police would be charged to trace the call could not be justified under the circumstances.
I find this response quite amazing on the one hand and quite disgusting on the other. The threat was real and could be perceived as having serious consequences if it was carried out. The disgusting part is the police can afford to send three of their members to interview this man but could not justify the expense of $220.00 to trace the call. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out that there is a real problem in the NSW Police Department. I refuse to call it a Force or Service until this is demonstrated throughout and not just on matters that are seized upon by the Police Media Unit and bandied around as a smoke screen for the real story in this state.
Every week I receive calls and e-mails from serving police looking for another job. Every day I hear the same old story from these police. Lack of guidance from experienced police, lack of physical and other resources and an all round disgruntled attitude.
This is yet again another reason the police should be seeking to work with the private sector such as licensed private investigators and the Security Industry to assist the police to cope with an ever declining experienced rank and file and an ever increasing disgruntled and misguided lot.
This is not an isolated matter sadly, it’s the norm. Police are skilled in getting rid of complaints and the PAL (Police Assistance Line- a contradiction in those two words if ever there was one) in my opinion. This is a much repeated example of what the public of NSW have to contend with on a regular basis.
Recently, arising out of a surveillance operation in the city, my investigators video -taped a drug deal going down and identified a Vietnamese male drug distributor and his vehicle in George street. I immediately attempted to call Police however after several attempts at speaking with detectives at two stations I became frustrated. I was directed by station staff to the PAL. For matters of security and protecting the integrity of this evidence and because it was a serious indictable offence, I sent an e-mail via the Police website addressed to the Commissioner. This was several weeks ago and I have still not received a response. I don’t expect I ever will. If a former Police Officer cannot report a crime, what chance then a member of the public who feels intimidated by police?
Another entry for my Police Shame File.
What a disgusting bunch of incompetents we have in charge of the police and this State. The fish rots at the head Nathan Reese.
PRIVATE EYES DREAD RETURN TO OLD DIVORCE RAID DAYS - 14 July 2009
The Sydney Morning Herald
Private eyes dread a return to infidelity on camera
By Rick Feneley
Picture this: a husband so desperate to escape an unhappy marriage that he commits fraud to "expose" himself in an act of infidelity. He hires a prostitute to act as his lover and a private investigator to burst into a motel room and photograph them in flagrante delicto.
Australia's private investigators can recall the boom days of a seedy, sordid business, when a spouse would go to such extremes to get a divorce. Until the arrival of no-fault divorce laws in 1975, a marriage could not be dissolved unless one spouse was found, in effect, to be the guilty party. Commonly it was for adultery, more often for desertion. Otherwise cruelty, drunkenness, imprisonment or insanity might be grounds for divorce.
Now Tony Abbott , the prominent Liberal and Catholic, wants to turn back the clock.
"Heaven help us," says Warren Mallard, managing director of Sydney's Lyonswood Investigations and Forensic Group. He does not want want a return to the "ugliest days of all" for marriage in Australia.
"People had to be caught in a compromising position. That required evidence, so there were a lot of photos of ankles wrapped around ears, for want of a better expression. It was not work that investigators relished."
The humiliating pictures could be tendered to the Divorce Court. "But it got to the point where people wanting a divorce would commit fraud and deception and 're-enact' the offence of infidelity - hire a prostitute, hire an investigator, to catch them in the act." Even in cases of amicable divorce, couples agreed to such fabrications.
So wouldn't all this be great for business? "Yes," said Mr Mallard. "Investigators and lawyers would again reap the harvest. But wasn't that the point of changing the law? To take lawyers out of it? To let couples work it out themselves?"
Mr Abbott, worried that divorce has become too easy, suggests couples could opt in to a fault-based divorce system. The current no-fault system would continue, but couples could commit to a harder test should either party ever want a divorce.
"But how, in this day and age, do we gather evidence of infidelity?" asks Mr Mallard. "We have privacy laws now. We can't just barge into motel rooms, into people's houses. A video of two people holding hands is not proof of an affair."
The president of the Australian Institute of Private Detectives, John Bracey, suspects Mr Abbott's proposal will be buried. If not, however, his industry would be ready once again to take instructions from clients to gather evidence of their spouses' adultery.
"And if there is a law that infidelity is grounds for divorce, we can't have another privacy law that prevents us from gathering evidence of the infidelity. It would be lunacy."
Mr Mallard said the industry took a hit after the 1975 reforms, but it now had more work than ever in family law, gathering evidence for custody disputes, on the adequacy of care for children, on alleged abuse and against fathers who refused to pay maintenance. "A father claims he's on the dole and has no money to pay. We catch him, on video, laying a thousand bricks a day for $800 cash. We conduct this surveillance in a public place. It is entirely legal."
PERCEPTION-V-REALITY - PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS AND POLICE-BUILDING BRIDGES
4th April 2009
The aim of this article is to make police aware of private investigators and their role in the community and to bring about a cooperative, communicative and collaborative combined investigative group and intelligence base and to path the way to a harmonious working relationship and a better understanding of each of their professional roles. This article is not intended to criticize or denigrate the work of police albeit it does demonstrate a sad history of misunderstandings, neglect and lack of co-operation. I have written it with the aim to bring about a greater cooperativeness and awareness by police of just what private investigators do and the problems they experience when dealing with police with the underlying aim to build bridges.
I was a serving police officer (11 years) and have since being retired from the police been commended by three Commissioners on three occasions for going to the assistance of police under attack and have on many occasions written letters of commendation regarding the actions of police and thus I am objective and balanced in my assessment and view point. I have a combined 40 years of investigative and law enforcement experience.
Perceptions are sometimes light years apart from reality. If you were to believe the crime writers and the proliferation of detective type television shows, then you could be forgiven for believing that private investigators, live out of paper cups, have two shots of bourbon before breakfast and are mostly disgraced police officers or former police officers who couldn’t cut the mustard. Yes there have been a few of these enter the private investigation industry and like any industry/profession it still has a few rotten apples, but on the whole it is filled with people much like the police force, persons from all walks of life. Unlike the serving police however, most investigators have never had any policing experience. This is not to say and should not be Interpreted that private investigators are not capable of conducting a thorough lawful investigation and working cooperatively with police towards a common goals, the detection and prevention of crime.
As someone who has spent the last 25 years in the Private Investigation Industry during which time I held the Presidency of Two National and one State representative body and as a person who was involved in the formulation of National and State legislation including the Current CAPI legislation and the competency standards for the obtaining of a license under that legislation, I believe I am well positioned to provide an objective and constructive overview of the private investigation industry and the day to day difficulties it experiences relative to both the perception of private investigators by the public and the police. It is however the police perception and general lack of knowledge surrounding private investigators that I will address in this article.
There are some major differences between what police and private investigators are empowered to do via their respective pieces of legislation and how both go about the process of investigation, some of which are constraining and some that are most advantageous. In any event these differences ought to be seen as a way that both professions can work cooperatively to assist one another and the public in that process.
Private investigators are licensed under the Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents Act 2005, (CAPI Act) an Act that is administered by the police through the Security Industry Registry. What is it then that this license enables private investigators to do?
Basically the previous legislation described the activities of a private investigator as quite simply ( ‘Inquire into the character, actions or nature of business of any person and search for missing persons’) and all encompassing however this definition ought not be misconstrued as meaning that private investigators can go about this very broadly described investigative work without first obeying all the other laws of the Local, State and Federal Governments. The new legislation CAPI Act does not adequately describe what an investigator is licensed to do save that it describes as a definition- private inquiry agent activity means investigations of persons or surveillance of persons. This definition is lacking, poorly defined and inaccurate as we can also investigate other things such as documents, goods, intellectual property etc.
What is it that private investigators do?
Historically, private investigators have undertaken insurance and matrimonial investigations however in the past five years there has been a serious decline in insurance investigations despite a large increase in the number of licensed private investigators. The decline in the traditional work would under normal circumstances bring about the demise of the industry however commensurate with that decline there has been a large increase in corporate and domestic investigations and although this has not totally balanced the imbalance created by the decline in traditional work, it has increased the work of private investigators to a point where there is now an increase not only in the work but also in the level of competency of those who work within the industry to accommodate those tasks.
The private investigation industry has become more competitive within its own ranks and with Government Law Enforcement Agencies and has come of age to a point where many Government Departments recognize the levels of competency, efficiency and resources of private investigators and outsource their work to Private Investigation Companies. The Crown Solicitors Office, The DPP, the ICAC, State
Rail, NCA, RTA and even the NSW Police themselves have outsourced to the private Investigation Industry and continue to do so. This should not be viewed as competitiveness or the taking of one another’s turf, instead the skill sets and resources of both sides ought be harnessed together to bring about a harmonious, cooperative, collaborative partnership in the detection and prevention of crime and the apprehension, charging and ultimate preparation of evidence and resultant conviction of criminals. It can also facilitate the freeing up of much of the minor crimes that police have had to traditionally handle and allow police to concentrate upon far more serious crimes that have grave consequences upon the general public.
How does a Private Inquiry Agents License / Security License appear
Who does a Private Inquiry Agent have to declare their licensing status to?
Any person with whom they are doing business, a member of the NSW Police upon demand and any other person appointed under Section 35 of the CAPI Act which is basically any other person appointed by the Commissioner.
So what are these differences and how do they effect the work of both private investigators and police?
Putting it simply, private investigators do not have the power to search enter and detain or ask for proof of identification, they do however have normal citizens powers of arrest. Private Investigators do not have access to the locator information that police have such as licensing details, address details, criminal histories and Intelligence data. Private investigators do however have access to other lawful locator data that police do not. In many respects Private Investigators are not as constrained by overseeing independent commissions and other bodies such as the PIC as well as police regulations so there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides.
As a former police officer and a current private investigator, I have learned to work without much of the intelligence data that I had at my finger tips whilst a serving member and I have found that this lack of easy access tends to hone innovative, investigative, creative and subterfuge skills rather like the difference between learning mathematics and calculus as opposed to picking up a calculator and pushing the buttons. Naturally, access to the same data that police have at their fingertips would assist private investigators to minimise costs and the time it takes to complete an investigation however despite being fingerprinted, background checked, Government licensed and competency accredited, controlled, fully subscriber funded lawful access to this information seems light years away, if ever.
Private investigators can easily say no to a client and not take on an investigation if their workload is such that the extra work would interfere with the quality of the investigation and ultimate outcome, not so with police however. If you are the officer on the shift and a citizen makes a complaint and provided that complaint is genuine, accurate, has breaches of a law and stands a chance of a conviction then generally speaking, irrespective of your work load, you have no alternative but to take it on. Much of this work however is never investigated despite it being reported simply because police resources are strained and matters become prioritised. This is one of the main reasons that victims of crime are now more than ever turning to the private Investigation Industry for assistance. Police are also constrained by Government resources, politics and budgets. Not so with Private Investigators because their clients pay for the work they provide. If a private investigation company such as mine has an increase in investigation work, I simply engage the competent resources to accommodate. There is an abundance of licensed private investigators at this point in time because of the decline in traditional insurance related work. In this area, it is fare to make a comparison as one is constrained by Government funds and the other is constrained by the funds of their client. It is however worthy of pointing out this important and possible advantageous (to police) difference. Many who fail to receive adequate assistance from the police are unable to afford the services of a private investigator and thus the cost in terms of victims and the impact upon them is immense and mostly not researched.
What are some of the difficulties experienced by private investigators when undertaking their lawful work and with dealing with rank and file police?
It is difficult to know exactly where to start. There is unfortunately a sad history of misunderstanding by police of just what it is that private investigators do and just how important their work is to their clients in terms of the effect upon their lives, their loved ones their assets and their businesses. There is also an entrenched perception by police that private investigators are incompetent and because they are making money and a living out of the victims of the crime we are generally just preying upon the victims.
Some actual case examples may be the best way to demonstrate what I am trying to say here.
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In this matter our client, a manufacturer of plumbing equipment suspected they had employee theft from the rear of their factory at Regents Park in the goods distribution section of their business. They suspected two employees of taking cash payments for goods and not providing invoices nor the cash. We applied for a workplace surveillance authority which was duly granted. We undertook a controlled purchase using a licensed investigator fitted with a covert video camera, a twin cab ute and a well planned subterfuge. We gathered evidence that both the suspect employees conspired and colluded to defraud their employer. The evidence was taken to the Auburn Detectives where to this date despite the protestations of ourselves and our client no persons were charged. The police involved used every excuse to avoid undertaking this investigation including the reasoning that we could not do what we did and thus the evidence was not admissible. I am still storing the exhibits in this matter.
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Our client was, among other things, a manufacturer of paint products for the automotive industry. He had learned through audits and informant information that an employee was stealing valuable tins of paint and apparently transporting them in his car away from the business. Covert cameras within the rear of the warehouse and in a parked vehicle revealed that the employee was in fact handing over the stolen paint product to two males, with evidence identifying the males and their vehicle. In fact, the two males suspected the presence of one operative who was over 50 metres away and occasioned an assault on that operative. Preferring to see the employee and the two males pursued for the theft of the paint product, our operative chose to advise the Auburn Police who were informed of the thefts to allow the assault to pass. However, despite overwhelming evidence, investigating Police chose to only prosecute the employee rather than pursue all three. We wonder whether the fact the two males in the observed vehicle were of a particular ethnic origin had any bearing on their not being pursued. This was despite continued protestations from the client and the assaulted operative that the two should be pursued.
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In this matter, our client was a registered pharmacist at Five Dock and he had a legal responsibility to maintain an audit of dangerous S4 drugs. He noticed that some of these drugs could not be accounted for, namely Anabolic Steroids. He placed glass files of these drugs on the shelves and monitored the drugs and sales and there was no doubt they were being stolen. He attended Burwood Police and made a report. He was told that unless he had evidence of who was stealing the drugs the police could do nothing. The police handling this matter told the victim pharmacist that he should buy a small video camera and hide it and get the evidence himself. Had the pharmacist victim have undertaken those recommendations he himself would have been guilty of a criminal offence under the Workplace Surveillance Act and the evidence would have been unlawfully obtained and thus inadmissible. We applied for a workplace surveillance authority at Burwood Court and it was granted. We installed a video camera and Digital Video Recorder and recorded three separate instances of the store Security Guard CUTRUPI taking the anabolic steroids in a furtive manner and placing them into his pockets. We gave a comprehensive report and the video evidence to our client who approached the police requesting that the security guard be charged. The police had not acted after several weeks and I made a complaint about the officers handling the matter. I was interviewed at length regarding my complaint and far more importance was placed upon my complaint about the neglect of police than the actual theft itself. Many weeks later, again there was still no action by police. Eventually my client went to police to complain and he was told by a serving police officer that the matter was minor in the scheme of things and such a minor offence would mean the guard could lose his security license and this would mean he would lose his income. This was a clear criminal offence and a clear breach of trust by a licensed security guard that had been employed to detect the very offences he had himself committed. I then made a complaint to the SIR through Julie Cornwell and eventually some action was taken, just what I am unaware as police never communicate nor co operate. My client advises me that Cutrupi was charged with offences
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This investigation was called Operation ‘What no pickles? ’ It related to the theft of a full shipping container of tinned ham ($200,000.00) from our client’s premises at Homebush. The ham was uninsured as the container that was on a trailer was left outside of the factory premises, as there was no room internally. The client an Asian man went to Auburn Police who were unhelpful. We were instructed to attempt to identify who was responsible and to recover the stolen ham, which was valued at a quarter of a million dollars. Our lengthy investigations revealed that the tins of ham were bar coded and quite easily identifiable and we suspected they would find their way onto the market, possibly into the very stores that our client supplied. We sent investigators to these stores and soon we identified the stolen tins by making controlled purchases, such purchases being videoed and each can being marked as an exhibit. We then devised a subterfuge that we were part of a large youth type organisation and that we had an upcoming jamboree for 50,000 youths and that we required a very large quantity of the ham. We were directed by these retailers directly to other retailers where we made larger purchases from a number of retail outlets and eventually were directed to a home premises from whence they received their stocks of the stolen ham in Bankstown where we undertook surveillance at the time when two undercover operatives approached on pretext and made large volume purchases of the stolen ham from a shipping container at that property.
We provided our client with a comprehensive brief of evidence and recommended that he attend the Auburn police and file a complaint. Our client attended Auburn police and presented the evidence and was instantly told that the police could not use our evidence as it was not gathered lawfully an private investigators cannot lawfully carry out controlled purchases. Our client was concerned that we had misled him and charged him for services that he was convinced by police, were worthless. Eventually after complaining to those particular police our client was able to get some satisfaction.
How can we bring about a more co operative and harmonious relationship between police and private investigators?
I firmly believe that only way to minimize the risks to investigators, maximize co operation between police and private investigators and bring about an increased reduction in crime is through education and the best way to bring this about is via instruction in the police training curriculum and the formulation of a working committee between police and the Investigation representative body the IMA (Institute Of Mercantile Agents)
RECOMMENDATIONS
That an ongoing working committee be established between Police and Investigation industry representative body (IMA) appointed representatives with a view to building a better working relationship between both parties and a mutually beneficial understanding of Police Regulations and practices and the short comings of CAPI Act and the work of Private Investigators so that bridges might be built to enhance co operation, improve techniques in the detection and prevention of crime and to amend the CAPI Act where it is obviously lacking.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING - December 2008
I am often criticized by a select group of industry members for my high profile within the industry and media and to these I am someone who should just go away or perhaps catch a dreadful disease however I believe strongly in the prospects of the private investigation industry and have worked tirelessly and selflessly over the past 27 or so years in an endeavour to bring about better conditions, better recognition and better training and all because of an unselfish passion for the work I love. I have for many years belonged to industry representative bodies and held the office of President on four occasions and although I am still a financial member of the peak industry body the IMA, I no longer attend these meetings preferring to toil away in the background where I can be of most use.
There are a number of things in common with all of my critics, they don’t know me, have never worked for me and if they have most probably were sacked, and most certainly have never contributed selflessly to anything other than themselves and their own personal goals. They do however know from information they have received from others that I must be their enemy. This reflects poorly upon them as investigators as the first rule is to investigate, gather evidence and sort the facts from fiction before being lead by those who hold hatred and avarice as their badges of honour.
It is my work in the background that I would like to bring to the notice of all concerned, genuinely interested and dedicated investigators who believe the industry is doomed. The news I have is all good albeit that in NSW we are suffering far more than our colleagues in other states due to changes to insurance laws. Recently I have been working with police and civilians within the police and SIR/CAPI to bring about changes to attitudes held by police regarding private investigators as well as changes to the current legislation that will make the work of investigators more attractive to the consumer, less inviting to those who should not be in the industry and to open up new horizons for investigators and consumers of investigative services.
One of the greatest obstacles we have had to overcome is the public perception of our industry members and that held by police. We have all seen the television shows such as Cheaters, which retard our image beyond belief. Whilst it seems like a good idea at the time to appear in such shows and whilst it might in the very short term promote the business of the participant, in the long term it doesn’t further the cause of our industry as a whole. To lift the image of the investigation industry is the single most important problem the investigation industry faces. We all make mistakes and I recall many years ago appearing in a show called Gumshoe, a documentary that appeared on the ABC and was screened in cinemas around the world that really turned out to be a Mocumentary. To me at that time I sincerely believed it would promote my business and also the industry. Little did I suspect there would be participants in this show that did just the opposite and in turn unwittingly brought as all into some discredit. It seems the producer had a hidden agenda. I learned from this experience that we must as individuals be mindful of all others that might be affected and undertake the due diligence before rushing in.
The SIR and CAPI Register have been most helpful of late and after many years of perseverance, on Monday 10th January I and another long term industry member and a former National President of the IMA, Peter Frisch sat with Superintendent John Kerlatec of the Regulated Industries Task Force, Julie Cornwell Manager CAPI Unit and Cameron Smith Acting Registrar of the SIR at Police Headquarters to discuss real and important issues faced by investigators in the field. Matters that involve police, education about our industry and the current legislation. To these men and woman I thank you and encourage you to promote this dialogue for the sake of unity and public safety.
You may already be aware that the current legislation was due for review in 2009, however due to our persistence and written representations this review will be brought forward to early in the new year, 2008. The IMA has been working towards similar goals in parallel with Peter and I and this has had the desired effect of telegraphing to the regulators that we are serious about our industry and the direction it takes. I must say that the current Commissioner Andrew Scipione has an uphill battle to overcome many problems the police currently face, not the least of which is resourcing, however to his credit he is the first Commissioner of Police that has offered to assist and actually facilitated that process.
The issues that were discussed are involved and multifaceted however the main thrust was the continuance of a consultative group and keeping the dialog open and working together in the sharing of information, the changes required to the new legislation, a better understanding and more co operative approach by police in regards to the investigation industry and for us as an industry to understand the protocols that police are bound by, their chains of command and how we might all work together for a common goal, the detection and prevention of crime.
For those of you who may be interested, there are currently only 2,500 licensed Private Inquiry Agents in NSW, a massive decline on previous numbers. This decline is also reflective of what occurred in the Security Industry when competencies and mandatory fingerprinting were introduced. Coupled with the decline in personal injury insurance investigations I believe unless we promote ourselves in a broader sense, we will decline in numbers even further.
Some of the main points are listed below:
Cross border licensing to allow operatives licensed in one state/territory to work on that license in another. A co regulatory legislative model that will allow for peak industry representative bodies such as is currently in place in the Security Industry to prevent those who ought not be involved in the industry from entering it or continuing in it. A method whereby operatives might easily and discreetly be contacted by police when a resident makes a complaint or observation that might affect the integrity of an investigation. A pathway through which investigators and police might work co operatively in the solving of crimes. Limited access to locator information.
You should not expect access to locator information to come easily as we will have to deal with the Privacy Commissioner here as well, however I do believe if at first we can open up a one way street where investigators can provide timely intelligence to the Police, the one way street will fast become a busy two way highway.
This is a marvelous start for our industry, a start that I would ask you all to embrace. I would like you to embrace this new open communication by letting me know the difficulties you experience from day to day so that I might bring these to the attention of the panel so that these might be included in submissions that will soon be called for. Don’t be frightened to make a suggestion, it may just turn out to be something good for us all.
To those detractors, save your negative comments and energy for hugging someone at Christmas. For those who don’t know me or those who think they do but don’t, my door is always open. Come, have a coffee with me, and let’s discuss positive steps rather than negative backward steps.
Warren Mallard
NEW ZEALAND - PIs could arrest and charge
Sunday May 18, 2008
By Jared Savage
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10510804
Private investigators could be given the power to arrest and prosecute criminals under proposed changes to police laws. Critics say civilians given stronger powers under the Policing Bill would be untrained and unaccountable. But supporters say the police are too stretched to tackle fraud - even with a new organised crime unit - and a partnership with private investigators would lead to a crackdown on white-collar crime.
Under proposed changes to the Police Act, Commissioner Howard Broad could from "time to time" appoint people with the "powers, functions and duties" of sworn officers.
The power would be on an acting, temporary or casual basis, or for any period the Commissioner and employee agreed on. Similarly, Broad could place an officer with another employer, such as a private investigation firm.
In effect, this would allow private detectives to gather evidence of white-collar crime before a sworn officer executed search warrants, arrested offenders or even prosecuted. The bill is being debated by Parliament's law and order select committee, chaired by Ron Mark. Broad declined to comment until the bill became law.
But Police Association vice-president Stuart Mills said passing police powers to private investigators would confuse the public, who expected a properly trained police service. "Who are private investigators accountable to? The clients who pay them," said Mills.
"Leave policing to police. That's what we're trained to do without fear or favour." Ron McQuilter, managing director of private investigators Paragon New Zealand, said partnerships with firms such as his were being created by law enforcement agencies worldwide, including the FBI. Paragon is often hired to investigate fraud, sometimes by Government departments. McQuilter was candid about the lucrative contracts his company would gain from private-public partnerships, but said police did not have the resources to combat white-collar crime - even when the investigation work had already been done.
A recent case involved $1.5 million of stolen money. Paragon obtained confessions and handed a complete prosecution file to police. Six months later, nothing has happened, with tens of thousands of recovered dollars sitting in a Paragon safe. "At the moment, there are crooks getting away with crime because the police are too busy to arrest them." Mark said he was keeping "an open mind" about contracting private investigators, particularly on fraud offences. Police lacked the manpower and expertise to investigate mid-level fraud and he was concerned they refused to look at some cases, even when private investigators obtained taped confessions. "We are very mindful of the frustration of ordinary Kiwis who are being denied justice because the police don't have the resources to deal with their case," he said.
Police and Justice Minister Annette King's office did not return calls, but in a statement last month she said there were more than 2000 extra police on the street since Labour came into office in 1999. A new agency to combat serious and financial crime will be launched in July - amalgamating the Serious Fraud Office with police.
TWU head hires PI to spy on rival union
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Brad Norington
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From: The Australian
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September 28, 2007 12:00AM
THE head of the Transport Workers Union in NSW has hired private detectives in a quest to prove a rival union is running a vicious smear campaign against him and his colleagues.
Tony Sheldon confirmed last night he had engaged Sydney-based Lyonswood Investigations & Forensic Group to gather evidence against the National Union of Workers and its NSW secretary, Derrick Belan. Mr Sheldon - the TWU secretary at the centre of allegations aired on the Nine Network's Sunday program about a union fund paid millions of dollars of company money - said the detective agency had provided "indications of a trail" leading to the NUW.
He claimed Lyonswood had uncovered that the NUW and one of its officials, Mark Ptolemy, had registered websites in Mr Sheldon's name, the name of his TWU deputy Wayne Forno and the TWU's name. Mr Sheldon also claimed the agency had "verified" it had been approached by the NUW to follow Mr Forno, and possibly himself. "They told us the NUW was ringing around asking for quotes to put surveillance on Wayne Forno," Mr Sheldon told The Australian. He believed the NUW's alleged internet registration of the TWU and its leaders was possibly "a conspiracy against me".
He said the TWU would soon receive a report from Forensic Data, a computer investigation agency also hired by the TWU, which Mr Sheldon believed would prove emails had been sent from inside his office to the NUW.
The rival NSW unions run by Mr Sheldon and Mr Belan have been locked in a long-running feud. Both belong to the dominant right-wing faction of the union movement and Labor Party in NSW, but have clashed over personalities and competition for members in western Sydney. Earlier this year, two NUW officials were charged after the assault of a TWU delegate at the DHL transport company in western Sydney.
Mr Belan said the "website stuff is right" but dismissed the rest as nonsense. "The website stuff happened a couple of years ago in retaliation for the TWU setting up a hotline against us," he said. "It's never been activated. Tony Sheldon's known about the websites, they were even raised in commission hearings. I'll be seeking legal advice in regards to the other matters."
Mr Ptolemy said: "In regards to the comments made about me, I would like to say that Tony Sheldon has lost his bundle.
"I have never heard such paranoid nonsense in my life. This man is desperately looking for any excuse to explain away his current problems."
Mr Sheldon said the decision to engage a detective agency was authorised with agreement of his union's branch committee of management and "various expenditure" was authorised by its finance committee. The TWU chief said Lyonswood was first engaged in May to take photos of people involved in alleged violence at the DHL worksite "and surveillance of other potential problems that might arise".
Mr Sheldon's claims against the NUW came as his union's federal committee of management held an urgent meeting to discuss issues including allegations raised on the Sunday program about multi-million-dollar "side deals" with many companies involving Mr Sheldon. The TWU chief said state TWU secretaries had given him their full support.