What Is Surveillance Investigation?
Professional surveillance investigation is the systematic, covert observation and documentation of a subject’s activities, movements, and behaviour for the purpose of obtaining factual, evidence-grade information. Conducted lawfully, by a licensed investigator, surveillance produces material that can be used in civil litigation, insurance claims, employment proceedings, and family court matters.
Priority Process provides professional covert surveillance services in Belfast, across Northern Ireland, and throughout the United Kingdom. All surveillance operations are conducted by PSA-licensed investigators under the direction of Justin McGibbon, whose 11-plus years of experience includes complex multi-day surveillance assignments, covert vehicle following, static observation, and evidential video production. Every operation is planned in compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and all applicable data protection legislation.
Types of Surveillance Investigation
Matrimonial and Infidelity Surveillance
Where an individual suspects a partner of infidelity, or where a spouse in contested divorce proceedings disputes the other party’s accounts of their lifestyle or cohabitation, professional surveillance can establish the facts. Priority Process conducts matrimonial surveillance with absolute discretion. Evidence gathered can be used to support or defend divorce proceedings, financial remedy applications, or child arrangements disputes in the Family Court.
Insurance Fraud Investigation
Fraudulent personal injury and disability claims cost insurers and businesses substantial sums annually. Where an insurer, employer, or legal representative has reasonable grounds to suspect that a claimant’s reported condition is inconsistent with their actual activities, covert surveillance can establish the true position. Priority Process produces video evidence and written reports suitable for use in civil proceedings or fraud investigations. Our PSA-licensed status ensures that evidence is obtained in a manner that withstands legal challenge.
Corporate and Commercial Surveillance
Businesses face a range of threats that professional surveillance can address: suspected leaking of confidential information, unauthorised contact with competitors, diversion of business opportunities, or dishonest conduct by employees or contractors. Priority Process works with businesses and their legal advisers to design targeted surveillance operations that produce actionable, admissible evidence while complying with employment law and data protection requirements.
Employee Conduct Investigations
Where an employee is suspected of dishonest sickness absence, undisclosed secondary employment, or conduct that contradicts their stated circumstances, surveillance evidence can support disciplinary proceedings or civil claims. Priority Process works with HR professionals and employment solicitors to produce evidence that meets the standards required for internal disciplinary processes and, where necessary, Employment Tribunal proceedings.
How Covert Surveillance Is Conducted
Effective surveillance requires planning, patience, and professional discipline. Prior to any operation, Priority Process conducts a reconnaissance assessment of the target area and plans deployment routes and contingencies. Investigators use high-definition digital video equipment capable of capturing clear footage in variable lighting and from distances that prevent the subject becoming aware of observation. Operations may be static, mobile, or a combination of both.
All surveillance is conducted proportionately and within the bounds of lawful observation. Priority Process does not engage in unlawful interception of communications, does not enter private premises, and does not conduct surveillance that would constitute harassment under the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.
What Evidence Is Produced
Every completed surveillance operation results in a professionally produced evidence package comprising: high-definition video footage (timestamped and GPS-verified); photographic evidence with location and time metadata; a detailed surveillance report documenting all observation periods, locations, and events; and where required, a signed witness statement in a form compliant with civil procedure rules, suitable for filing in court.
Legal Admissibility of Surveillance Evidence
The admissibility of surveillance evidence in legal proceedings depends substantially on how it was gathered. Evidence obtained unlawfully risks exclusion by the court and may expose the instructing party to civil or criminal liability. Priority Process operates exclusively within the law. Our PSA licence is the statutory mark of a regulated private security operator, and our investigators’ methodologies are designed to ensure that every piece of evidence is obtained lawfully, documented thoroughly, and capable of withstanding challenge in adversarial proceedings.
Why PSA Licensing Matters
The Private Security Authority is the statutory regulator for surveillance investigators operating in Ireland. PSA licensing requires operators to meet defined standards of training, conduct, and legal compliance. Instructing a PSA-licensed investigator provides clients — and their legal advisers — with confidence that evidence produced will not be challenged on the basis of the investigator’s regulatory status.
Why Choose Priority Process
Priority Process is one of a small number of surveillance investigation firms in Northern Ireland that combines PSA licensing, ICO registration, and a director with ABI and WAPI membership. Justin McGibbon’s extensive operational background means that every assignment benefits from experience-led planning. For solicitors, insurers, and businesses who need surveillance evidence that will hold up in court, Priority Process provides a regulated, accountable, and professionally credentialled service.
To instruct Priority Process, call 028 9092 3333 or use our contact form for a free consultation.