Posted on 23/01/12, filed under News | No Comments
The Evening Standard newsletter last week revealed that nine London councils have paid out more than £120,000 between them to hire private detectives to spy on residents and even their own staff. The money, it is reported, was spent over the last three years and details show that it was spent on various items of surveillance equipment used for everything from investigating rogue traders, to hiring private investigators in order to recover stolen vehicles.
Critics have now accused the local authorities of playing spy games and using taxpayers’ money to infringe on people’s privacy. One of the councils involved, Newham council, is one of the most deprived boroughs in London, and they alone spent more than £67,000 on three investigations into residents suspected of fraudulent activity in 2010. It also spent £10,392 spying on a member of their own staff.
Another big offender was Croydon council, who spent nearly £18,000 spying on just three individuals who were claiming disability benefit in order to determine whether or not they really were disabled. Bexley council weren’t much better, spending £200 in a search for a former employee who was suspected of stealing a staff car.
Barnet council also ran up a large bill of almost £14,000 while investigating two of its own employees who had made injury compensation claims against the local authority, and spying on three members of the public.
Details reveal that the nature of the surveillance and use of surveillance equipment would involve an agent watching an address from a distance, and on occasion following a suspect, and recording their findings.
Posted on 20/01/12, filed under Spy Equipment | No Comments
As we’ve said many times before in this blog, that voice recorders can have many different uses. A voice recorder isn’t just for private investigators and those involved with fighting crime.
The options and reasons for owning a covert voice recorder can be many and varied. Many people don’t realise that a gadget of this sort can be used for a number of daily tasks. Let’s give you some examples: you might want to record a lecture or lesson at college or university. How about if you need to record and document an important legal or business meeting. Another reason might be because you need to attend a vital conference and you want to remember what was said at a later date.
Because of the size and the quality of many voice recorders on the market today, there’s no need to worry about carrying bulky devices around with you as you can take these small, handy gadgets with you wherever you choose to go. Your average digital voice recorder is so discreet and will come with a lengthy recording time without compromising on the audio quality.
Whatever your need for a voice recorder, you will be impressed by the range that is available for public use. From the standard of the recording to the price tag it comes with, you will be surprised at how much you can actually get for your money. Take a look at some of the very latest recording devices which are available online today.
Posted on 19/01/12, filed under Spy Equipment | No Comments
What better example of a film chock full of testosterone, weaponry, chases and spy gadgets than the latest installment from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
Each of the films so far have been pretty diverse – jumping all over the place (literally) as we go from country to country in relentless pursuit of Ethan’s latest fight against all that is evil in the world. The last film showed us a far more domesticated image of Mr Hunt, which left die-hard fans desperate to get back to the action-fuelled adventure of previous installments of the franchise. And it looks like they won;t be disappointed with MI:4.
Spy gadgets galore, nuclear war plot, chases, running, shooting…you name it, this film has the lot. What makes this film all the more special is that some of the sequences have been shot using IMAX cameras – this doesn’t mean you have to rush to your nearest IMAX screen to see the film but we would if we were you. It is nothing short of spectacular in all it’s IMAX glory.
Our verdict: 133 minutes of whirlwind action, Cruise performs as always, no surprises but that it’s what you go to see it for.
The Evening Standard newsletter last week revealed that nine London councils have paid out more than £120,000 between them to hire private detectives to spy on residents and even their own staff. The money, it is reported, was spent over the last three years and details show that it was spent on various items of surveillance equipment used for everything from investigating rogue traders, to hiring private investigators in order to recover stolen vehicles.
