Surveillance
Observed in public, recorded as it happens.
Surveillance for insurers, self-insurers and solicitors, from Newcastle across the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and New England. Conducted in or from public places, and reported as a timestamped log with footage where lawfully obtained.
The service
The person named in the referral, and nothing beyond it.
Surveillance is the covert observation and recording of a person's current activities and capabilities by a licensed investigator. It is instructed where a claim turns on activity that needs to be established and the information cannot be gathered by less intrusive means.
Factum Investigations conducts surveillance for insurers, self-insurers, employers through their insurer, and solicitors. We are licensed under the Security Industry Act 1997 (NSW). NSW Master Licence 000111255.
The work is conducted within the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) and to the expectations in SIRA Standard of practice S25, as amended in December 2025. Scope and duration are agreed in writing before any activity starts.
What you receive
- Written report with a timestamped surveillance log
- Video and photographic footage where lawfully obtained, with other people redacted where possible
- A written scope and duration, agreed before activity starts
- Material stored securely and released only to the instructing party
When it is instructed
Claims where activity needs to be established.
Workers compensation claims
Where the insurer has documented its reason for surveillance, the information cannot be gathered by less intrusive means, and observation is likely to establish the activity in question.
Motor accident claims
CTP claims are handled separately, to Part 4 of SIRA's Motor Accident Guidelines, which require a licensed investigator under the Security Industry Act 1997 and set their own rules for surveillance.
Public liability and other claims
For general insurers and solicitors, where a claim or proceeding turns on a person's activity. Conducted in or from public places, within the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW).
We take particular care in psychological injury claims, where SIRA asks insurers to weigh the need for any investigation or surveillance against the worker's recovery and return to work. Where a referral involves a psychological injury, the scope is confirmed with the insurer before any activity starts.
How it is conducted
The rules we work to on every referral.
- Only in or from places regarded as public.
- Only the person named in the referral. Other people are redacted from footage where possible.
- No inducement, entrapment or trespass, including through social media.
- No pretexting, and no recording of conversations.
- No interference with the person's activities while under observation.
- Scope and duration agreed in writing before activity starts.
- Material stored securely and released only to the instructing party.
- A written report with a timestamped log and footage where lawfully obtained.
Standard 25
Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW)
The Act governs listening devices and optical surveillance devices. We do not record conversations, and we do not enter premises or interfere with any vehicle or object in order to observe or record.
How an engagement runs
From referral to written report.
Referral
The referral names the person, states the reason for surveillance and what is to be established, and provides the claim information needed for the task. Contact us by phone, email or the enquiry form.
Scope in writing
Scope and duration are agreed in writing before any activity starts. Where the referral involves a psychological injury, the scope is confirmed with the insurer first.
Surveillance
Conducted in or from public places by licensed investigators, with every observation logged and timestamped as it happens.
Report delivered
The written report, the timestamped log and the footage where lawfully obtained, with other people redacted where possible, released securely to the instructing party.
Employers
Staff at work are a different matter.
Employers engage us for surveillance through their insurer where a claim is involved.
We do not conduct covert surveillance of staff at work, which the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW) prohibits without a covert surveillance authority.
What we will not do
Lawfully, or not at all.
- Observe anyone other than the person named in the referral.
- Record conversations, use a pretext, or approach or message the person through social media.
- Enter private property, or interfere with the person's activities while under observation.
- Offer an opinion on liability, on medical questions or on any other aspect of the claim.
- Accept a referral without a documented reason and a written scope.
Related services
When another service fits better.
Factual Investigations
Where the claim needs interviews, signed statements and a factual report rather than observation.
Factual investigationsIncident & Workplace Investigations
Where a workplace injury, near miss or allegation needs an independent record of what happened and why.
Incident and workplace investigationsAerial Scene Capture
Where a site or scene needs to be documented from the air. Aerial capture records places, not people.
Aerial scene captureWhere we work
The Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and New England.
Factum Investigations is based in Newcastle and conducts surveillance across the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and New England. Consultations are by appointment. See where we work.
Common questions
Surveillance, answered plainly.
Where can surveillance be conducted?
Who is observed?
Can an employer instruct surveillance of staff at work?
What does the surveillance report contain?
Ready to start