This PI's New Year's Resolutions Redux

First, Dear Reader, apologies for the lack of recent updates. As luck would have it, I went away for a few days over the holidays only to have my trusty Beast break down on Christmas afternoon outside our equivalent of a one-horse town.

Given that I was already running three hours late for Christmas lunch, things were not looking all that good for our Hero.

And it was all downhill from there.

Let's just say there was no Christmas lunch (or dinner!) for me and I was a very unhappy and grumpy person for a few days.

But that was so last year, let's instead focus on the bright and shining future ahead!

Looks like we'll be returning to our regular programming

Well that was a little embarrassing!

I guess the thing about apocalypses is that there will always be another one scheduled.

Time to say our last goodbyes!

Not actual Mayan Calendar according to Gwynndiana Jones, below.

A Problem with Witnesses

Well, Dear Reader, I have had a criminal defence case recently jump into my lap that is giving me a bit of a headache.

Without going into too many details, the defendant is charged with a number of counts of unlawful sexual connection, as well as abduction, in regards to an incident late one night at a party.

Clearly, his account of what occurred at the party differs significantly from hers - she has laid a complaint.

This is where I come in...

Monday WTF Files: An unusual degree of interest

Well, Dear Reader, I'm afraid you have stumped me with your antics because, for some unfathomable reason, a particular blog post has been getting quite a bit of attention.

The post in question was actually written just over two years ago and I am at a bit of a loss as to explain its current popularity.

To put it in perspective, overall, it has had almost 2.5 times the views as the next most popular post.

That makes it an aberration.

Would someone please entlighten me as to what is happening?

And in other statistical news, you might (unlikely as it may seem) be interested in the breakdown of browsers used to access notstalking.com as well as most popular keywords:

The Scientific Method

Well, Dear Reader, I received an answer, of sorts, from the boffins in the laboratory in regards to my earlier post.

Dr Bambi* (artist's impression, left) sent the following email** to clarify their position.

Bullshit Files: The Bureaucratic Tangle

In a scenario that could have been straight out of Catch-22, I am currently involved in a matter that perplexes the fuck out of me.

Here's the situation in a nutshell.

The police had evidence in a criminal complaint that they didn't have funding for to have DNA testing. They couldn't have the Client, who was willing, pay for the testing so due to lack of leads case closed and evidence released back to Client to pursue private testing. Laboratory won't accept evidence for testing unless submitted by police. But the police have closed file...

See the problem?

A Simple Plan: Keeping Track of Files

Since the last couple of posts have been vaguely on the theme of 'keeping stuff organised', I thought I'd share a quick tip that works for me in terms of keeping tabs on the active files I have at any given time.

Actually, I stole modified this idea from one of my Clients who I subcontract to. Their files all had different coloured cover sheets depending on the type of file it was, ie document service, tracing enquiry, field visit etc. I didn't notice the difference for some time as they usually emailed me a black & white scan rather than an original but sometimes I would receive files by post and wondered why the first sheets were different?

So I took it one step further.

What's in the bag?

To continue yesterday's theme, I thought I'd take a closer look as to what I routinely use during a day's work, but don't carry on my person.

As I've mentioned earlier, I have a 5.11 Tactical Wingman Patrol Bag which opens up and becomes a car-seat organiser, enabling me to work from my vehicle with all my stuff neatly stowed by my side.

Here's what's inside...

...or are you just happy to see me?

In response to Pursuit Magazine's facebook post "Pocket litter. What's in your pockets?"

This is what I routinely carry on me. Of course I have more gear and stuff in my car-seat organiser but that's another story.

Justice Denied?

A colleague recently called me to ask for some advice (hey, it happens!) in regards to his current criminal defence investigation. This is the one regarding the murder I mentioned briefly earlier.

His first roadblock is that he has to locate, then interview, a pivotal witness who happens to be in prison. Somewhere.

And he needs to do so early this week.

Hence Problem #1: how do you locate a currently-serving inmate when robust privacy laws protect that information from the public?

Well, in this part of the world the answer is not very easily. And even when you do, getting in to see them is another problem itself.

The Hit List

Well, Dear Reader, I thought I might share some of the blogs or other websites I like to peruse from time to time that relate to Private Investigators - or the investigations industry in general.

Either informative articles or just good yarns.

So, in no particular order:

PIs on TV: Vincent Gallagher

An underrated British series that only ran for two seasons, from 2005-2006 (only 4 episodes per season), and starred Ray Winstone as the titular Vincent, ex-plod-turned-PI.

Vincent certainly had his share of personal problems that frequently would get in the way of the smooth resolution of cases, and it could be said that he lacked a certain amount of discretion when it came to his ex-wife, Cathy.

For all his strengths, Vincent was a flawed man but he had a stalwart group of investigators and aides with which to work with. No man is an island, and all that!

And, of course, there was Suranne Jones as his capable and long-suffering Girl Friday, Beth...

Liberty County settles lawsuit...

 ...Angels remain conspicuously silent on matter, however.

You may recall my post earlier this year regarding the swift action undertaken by the esteemed Liberty County's Sheriff's Office after receiving a hot tip from psychic 'Angel' (who in turn had received the news directly from Sweet Baby Jesus and the 32 Angels at His side) about the mass grave under the house of Joe Bankson and Gena Charlton.

Except, of course, no bodies were subsequently found.

Well, it seems that the good news is that Liberty County has settled the lawsuit, paying Bankson and Charlton $15,000 each to make the matter disappear.

A bit like all those alleged corpses.

Now just the news corporations and, of course, psychic 'Angel' to go...