With the greatest vigilance for their employees

The profession of "private research officer" in the words of the Act, dates to the 19th century, with the creation of the Office of universal information by the famous Vidocq. There is however a relatively unknown profession, especially business. "When I started to doubt the honesty of one of my employees, says Jean-Claude Jacquart, boss of SARL in Paris in the agri-food, I've hesitated to resort to a private detective. I did not know if it was legal and would not attract me in trouble.

However an investigation and a detective report can be be valuable tools for a business leader. If French law concerning the activity of private research officers were inaccurate so far, the regulation is now better defined, particularly since the adoption of a new law on internal security, validated by the Constitutional Council on March 13, 2003. Until then, despite the pressures of the various organizations Union representative including the CNSP-ARP and the CNDEP (), who mission is to represent the profession and its interests , the Act was not duty to the future detective training, or to obtain a certificate of fitness. Unlike other European countries, a simple statement in Prefecture and a criminal record were enough to open an agency. "For business leaders who appeal to us, this new law is a serious security, explains Marie-Françoise Hollinger, creative agency Alma detectives, one of the oldest firms of investigation of Aquitaine.". It allows the detective to legally investigate, so a true report of trust with its customers.

Business a little "dark".

And business leaders are reluctant less to take the step. "At my debut, in 1966, I counted 80 of private business, explains Martine perch of the Duluc agency in Paris.". Today, it is the opposite. 80 of business from companies. "Their applications are the most varied:"We are dealing with a number always more important business a little "dark", explains Alain Bernier, detective and President of CNSP-ARP." Inexplicable turnover decreased, constituting unfair competition facts, a company which debauchery the employee of another corporation, a commercial "double" that infiltrates or representatives that direct clients to the account other than their employers...

But Affairs, Detective missions are not confined to find potential homes of losses. Business leaders are increasingly wary to their employees: they stalk the unjustified disease cases, false notes of expenses or flights. "The pursuit of personal profit in disregard of the company generalises, said Jean-Claude Jacquart." The use of the detective to confuse certain employees becomes inevitable in some redundancies for misconduct. "And if for many years the report of spinning was rarely taken into account in a trial, the legislature, since the new law, has now changed the equation. By enshrining the admissibility of this report before the various courts.

A new generation

Alongside the growth of the Internet, a new phenomenon also develops: Cybercrime. E-mail harassment, spying software, identity theft and information piracy are part of these new offences, further increasing. A "Variant" of the profession of private investigator is therefore created: the cyberdétective. "Recently, I've exposed an employee who was unable to obtain increase." He was Avenged by disseminating false information on a forum of Exchange online, Boursorama, explains Alain Stevens, claiming this qualification. Business leaders are not yet very aware of the risks associated with the use of computers and the Internet.Yet, the dissemination of information in public spaces can lead to a decrease in the course of their actions! "Unlike the detective which is evolving on the ground, techniques of investigation of the cyberdétective pass through the search for evidence on networks or digital media. Computer security integrates therefore now, little by little, in the list of many "missions" of the detective.

The legal clarification of the role of detective, the emergence of these new forms of research, the multiplication of commercial and Industrial Affairs may also explain the resurgence of interest that the profession among young people. "This job inspired numerous vocations, concludes Alain Bernier." My Office receives more than 120 requests per month. But on improvising is not private detective! Most often, we recommend that training. "To date, only the Ifar (research officers training Institute) is recognized by all of the professional organizations of private and research is part of the order of the French detectives. 80 of the pupils of this school are in the year following their release. Later, 30 of them settle in their account and set up their own business. With the greatest vigilance for their employees.