Security Consultancy

Thefts and frauds involving an employee are a growing area of concern for the business community.
The police no longer have the time or inclination to deploy resources to tackle this growing problem and if they do, the individual remains suspended from the workplace for many months, at huge expense to the company. Not only does the company have to pay his or her wages but also those of the person covering for the suspended worker, often by means of overtime.

How Can MRW Help my Business?

¨ Trained Investigators conduct a thorough, professional investigation.

¨ We utilise the latest technology including covert cameras to achieve this aim.

¨ We interview witnesses and obtain their written statements.

¨ We interview the suspect.

¨ We provide a complete package to the employer to enable disciplinary proceedings to be undertaken.

¨ We supply a complete file to the police to ensure prompt action is taken by them.

We offer you a complete service, starting with the initial complaint, interviewing the suspect(s) and present, in a timely manner, a completed file to you.
We can then advise on the suitability of undertaking disciplinary proceeding prior to police involvement.
This is often a cost effective method ensuring any suspension of a worker is minimal.
We would then communicate with the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service on your behalf. This saves many frustrating months of waiting for their attendance and action.

Evidence obtained by our members fully complies with the Criminal Justice Act and is of a standard acceptable to the criminal courts. Further, all our members are experienced in giving evidence in the civil and criminal courts, including employment tribunals.

Companies who do not undertake the correct procedures during a disciplinary investigations risk becoming embroiled in costly civil law suits. Using the services we offer saves time and money spent on legal fees during appeals and tribunals.

Surveillance.

Our surveillance team comprises specialist ex-Police Officers trained in the skills of mobile and static observations. We are able to offer a full surveillance capability tailored to your needs.

We specialise in

¨ Insurance Fraud. (Fraudulent injury/theft claims)

¨ Absenteeism. (Moonlighting)

¨ Prevention of corporate sabotage.

Utilising the latest technology including digital video recordings and GPS tracking our operatives are able to capture evidence that provides the client with confirmation of wrongdoing. At the conclusion we will provide a comprehensive report of the observations.

All our staff are experienced in giving evidence in legal hearings including civil and criminal courts. Our systems follow Home Office guidelines which safeguards the continuity of any evidence which we gather.

Our staff continue to assist various police forces in surveillance training including Counter and Anti surveillance techniques.

We have undertaken assignments on a national and international level, including operations identifying sources of counterfeit goods.
We also assist companies with staff integrity checks including theft from the workplace and the practice commonly known as ‘Moonlighting’.
We also undertake work on behalf of Insurance Underwriters and have obtained evidence on their behalf enabling them to rebut claims totalling many thousands of pounds.

Investigative Interview Courses

We can provide you Company with

• 
  A FULL TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS
• 
  INVESTIGATIVE TRAINING TO SUIT THOSE NEEDS
• 
  REALISTIC ON SITE TRAINING INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT
• 
  FLEXIBILITY WITH REGARD TO NUMBERS
• 
  POST-COURSE SUPPORT AND ADVICE
  

As the police response to business-related thefts and fraud diminishes, Local Authorities and business institutions are increasingly looking to within for an investigative base.

Many organisations are forming their own Investigations Department as an in-house solution. To be effective these Investigations Departments need formal training, otherwise time and money are wasted. As the Police Forces learnt to their cost there is a particular skill to interviewing both witness and a person suspected of dishonesty.

The Police Forces of England and Wales responded to this training need by developing the National Intelligence Model, (N.I.M.)

At M.R.W. we have a number of associates who specialise in this area. During their Police Service these associates undertook nationally-accredited courses allowing them to deliver training in all aspects of Investigative Interviewing. Some of our staff still provide training to Police Forces in relation to this particular skill. Courses can be tailored to suit your needs but all are based on the N.I.M. as devised by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Testimonials

c3i Europe Ltd

This company is retained by a number of high-profile clients to conduct investigations into the activities of people intent on stealing from those clients. To assist in these lengthy and often complicated investigations c3i Europe regularly uses the services provided by M.R.W. Associates. M.R.W. are able to undertake investigations including static and mobile observations, including close quarter surveillance, which allows M.R.W. operatives to obtain the vital evidence that is required by both the civil and criminal courts.

A recent operation centred on criminals operating in the Oxford area. Using the latest techniques, operatives were able to obtain photographic identification evidence that assisted the local police in Newbury to identify and arrest three people and recover stolen property valued at over £20,000.

The Head of Operations for C3i Europe Limited said,
”This was another example where the Private Investigation sector can assist both client and law enforcement to achieve a successful outcome in the prevention and detection of crime and we are grateful to M.R.W. Associates for their invaluable assistance in bringing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
Further we recently commissioned M.R.W. Associates to undertake observations regarding fraudulent insurance claims, specifically relating to alleged personal injury and compensation.
M.R.W. obtained first class visual evidence that allowed the insurance company to resist the claims.
In all instances our clients have been most impressed with the professionalism, commitment and positive approach shown by MRW. We will be using this company as often as we need.”

DCUK

We have used MRW Associates on a number of occasions.
They are professional and reliable. The work they have undertaken on our behalf has always been of the highest quality.
Furthermore, having been disappointed with other firms, both over price and quality of work I have no hesitation in recommending M.R.W. Associates to others.

Employee Theft - The Profit Killer

If you would like a copy of the full version of Employee Theft–The Profit Killer, visit www.employeetheft.com. Reproduced in good faith

Whether your business is manufacturing, retail, wholesale, service, hospitality or high tech, it is probably experiencing some degree of employee theft. The list of items employee steal from their employers is endless and includes such items as inventory, money, parts, components, supplies, information and customers. In fact, it is estimated that 95 percent of all businesses experience employee theft and management is seldom aware of the actual extent of losses or even the existence of theft.
Studies by the Department of Commerce, American Management Association and other organization estimate that employees steal over a billion dollars a week from their unknowing employers. Other studies estimate that nearly one-third of all bankruptcies are caused by employee theft and it takes approximately $20 in sales to offset every $1 lost to theft. Often management has indications of the problem through declining profits, unexplained inventory shortages, rumors and many other signs.

Management Misconceptions

More often than not, it is very difficult for a manager to accept the possibility that employees he/she hired, trusts and works beside are capable of engaging in such disloyal and dishonest activity. Consequently, it is easy to understand how management embraces misconceptions about the problem. Some of these misconceptions about employee theft include:
Most theft is caused by non-employees.
Well-paid and/or senior employees are trustworthy/loyal and don’t steal.
Honest employees can be counted on to report employee theft.
Employee theft is conspicuous and can be detected in its early stages.
You don’t need to formally inform employees that theft will not be tolerated.

Signs of Theft

Since there are as many signs of theft as there are ways to steal the list of warning signs is endless. The key is for management to realize that certain conditions or incidents may not be the result of carelessness or incompetence, but indications that theft is in progress. All irregularities or deviations must be evaluated with an open mind and creative mind. Inventory or product found near employee exits or dumpsters, sensitive documents discovered in copy machines, employees in key positions who refuse to take time off, photo-copied documents used in lieu of originals have been signs of past theft and may be indications of existing dishonesty.

Why Employees Steal

Amazingly, employees questioned as to why they stole often rationalize their action and state the opportunity of theft presented itself through lax policies, controls and management indifference. Moreover, many employees cite opportunities created by management, not their financial need, as their primary motivation to steal. Another significant reason employees give for stealing is their perceived belief management was stealing so it was okay for them to also do so. This condition proves the point that, if management wants a theft free work environment, it must set the example of honesty and adherence to policies.
Some other common examples of employee rationale for theft include:
I am underpaid and I only taking what I deserve.
Everybody does it, besides, they can write it off.
The company makes a large profit and I deserve some of it.
The company angered me and I got back at it.

How to Interview an Employee Suspect

There are a number of crucial issues to consider in dealing with an employee suspected of theft. On one hand, the employer wants to know the truth regarding possible guilt of an employee suspected of theft even though the employee is reluctant to cooperate. On the other hand, there are serious legal and employee relation problems that can arise from not handling the situation in an appropriate manner. Although the issues are many and complex, the following are just a few of the basic steps to be followed in determining the facts of a theft incident leading to the interview of suspects:
Carefully evaluate the source and validity of any information that alerts management to a potential theft problem.
Gather as much information or evidence regarding the alleged theft as possible prior to taking any action.
If necessary, review facts and findings with an attorney, auditor in areas of legal and accounting concerns.
Know all of the legal and labour concerns regarding the interview of a suspect
Stick to and discuss issues at hand. Don't deviate or allow deviation from obtaining the truth and facts surrounding the situation.
Dealing with employees suspected of theft tests the emotions, restraint, legal knowledge and objectivity of every manger and supervisor. Since the consequences of mishandling the investigation of employee theft is so great, the key is to learn the procedure now and not learn during the course of an incident.

Or just contact MRW who will do all this for you

How to Prevent Losses

Until management gains an accurate understanding about employee theft and initiates sound loss prevention measures, it will remain a major drain of profits productivity and employee morale. Minimally, the following steps should be taken:
Conduct a survey or audit of your business. Identify possible existing theft and potential opportunities or risks to potential theft. Immediately develop a plan to eliminate or reduce your exposure to these risks.
Educate supervision and the general employee population as to the impact employee theft has on them and how they, not just management, are the key to solving the problem.
Develop a Loss Prevention Program that ensures an ongoing effort to prevent and detect dishonest activity.

Video Clip

As you can see from the clip employee theft is nothing new and as is pointed out, it is not just targetted at large "faceless" organisations. The smaller businessman is just as likely to be targetted in this so called "victimless crime".

Contact MRW today to help you draw up a Risk Assessment of your Business and it Vulnerabilities