Investigation

Although we are equipped to investigate any manner of crime, we are often called upon to investigate Crime in the Workplace, an all too common occurrence. From petty theft to vandalism, embezzlement to “skimming”, misuse and abuse of company property to insurance fraud – the end result is the same – a negative financial impact on your business.

Most companies take appropriate steps to ensure an honest workforce but crime does and will happen. Holmes-PI provides discreet, effective investigative services which are designed to assist businesses, large and small, to (a): identify potentially undesirable individuals before or after being hired, and (b): to identify and apprehend workplace criminals.

Employee Vetting

One of the key services we provide and one we are consistently called upon to conduct is Employee Vetting. For any employer, this is a service of immeasurable value. A quality C.V. and seemingly good references are not always clear (or factual) representations of an individual’s personal history. By conducting thorough credit, criminal and background checks, (means reporting and status enquiries) we provide you with an in-depth, concise and accurate picture of the person you are considering hiring. Knowing an individual’s circumstances outside the working environment can often provide key indicators as to their potential for or susceptibility to committing workplace crime. Without comprehensive and meticulous Employee Vetting employers can find themselves exposed, not only to the risk of petty workplace criminal activity but, in today’s society, the potential for crime on a larger scale.

Theft in the Workplace

Petty theft in the workplace can be a problem for any organisation... Missing wallets, mobile phones, vending machine rigging, theft of stationery and supplies (yes, even company supplied toilet paper) -- the list is endless – the cost is incalculable. Companies have an obligation not only to protect their own assets but to protect those of their employees. No organisation wants its personnel or the entity itself to become victims.


Deception & Misappropriation

Fraud is an insidious crime and often devastating to an organisation. It can happen at any level and in any shape or form. Whether it is misappropriation of funds by a high ranking director, to deception by a delivery or service man taking a non-reported cash payment, or an employer claiming sick leave and then moonlighting on another job (or simply spends time on the golf course) – the end result is the same -- the company ends up paying for it.


Misuse or Abuse of Company Property

An often overlooked or disregarded problem, misuse or abuse of company property is often considered to be “acceptable” behaviour – an erroneous mentality in which the individual believes the company “owes” them! A simple example would be using the company van to run your part-time removal business on weekends. Not a crime in the eyes of the individual, (I work really hard for my employer – I deserve this) but for the business – the costs add up – mileage, depreciation, fuel – what if 10 people in a company of 200 employees were using the company vehicle in this manner? It can mean thousands of pounds over the course of a year. Can your company afford it?

Insurance & Worker’s Compensation Fraud

When insurance companies conduct investigations into insurance fraud, it is the company who pays the price. Insurance companies simply recover their investigation costs by increasing the company’s premiums – often by significant amounts. High premium rates can be crippling to a company and can potentially be avoided. If an employer is concerned that fraud may be taking place, by conducting an independent inquiry, fraudulent activity can be quickly identified and stopped. By taking a proactive stance, inflated premium rates can be curtailed. Furthermore, if employees are aware that a company has a policy in place to prevent and deal with fraud, crimes of this nature could well be reduced.

Card Recovery

In an increasingly debt encumbered society, many individuals accumulate enormous amounts of bad debt. In situations where spending and repayments are indicative of a problem or overdrafts become excessive or compromise limits, we provide financial institutions with bank and credit card recovery services. Always handled sensitively and professionally, we ensure the destruction of and/or removal and return of the cheque book/bank card or credit card.