Surveillance in Ballarat

There is usually a point at which waiting and hoping stops working. Surveillance is the most direct way to convert a suspicion into evidence. Working across Ballarat, our investigators observe, follow and record without ever making themselves known, and hand you a factual account of where a person went, who they met and how long they stayed. We will give you a straight assessment of whether this is worth doing at all.

Ballarat is a goldfields city an hour and a half west of Melbourne. Call 1300 773 293 at any hour, or read on for how we handle surveillance here.

What brings people to us in Ballarat

An employee on workers compensation appears to be working elsewhere
A former partner is breaching a parenting arrangement
A business partner may be running a competing operation
A tenant or occupant may be subletting or misusing a property
A duty of care matter requires you to know where somebody actually goes
You have been told a version of events that does not match what you have seen

On the ground in Ballarat

Working in Ballarat means understanding a heritage city with a compact centre and a wide belt of newer estates around it. Our operatives plan around that rather than turning up and hoping. Where a matter runs across several days we rotate vehicles and positions so that a familiar car never becomes part of the scenery.

We work regularly across Wendouree, Sebastopol, Delacombe, Buninyong, Creswick and Bacchus Marsh, and we travel further into Victoria where a matter calls for it.

Our approach to surveillance in Ballarat

We take a full brief, including the subject description, vehicles, addresses and the pattern you have noticed
We agree the days, hours and budget before anybody goes out, so there are no surprises
Operatives take up position discreetly and record continuously, noting every movement with the time
You receive a progress update while the job is running, not just at the end
We stand down early and tell you when a session is producing nothing of value
A written report is delivered with an indexed log and the supporting media

Surveillance and the law in Victoria

Before anything starts, you should understand what is and is not permitted. Surveillance in a public place is generally lawful in Victoria. What is tightly controlled is the use of devices. The Surveillance Devices Act 1999 (Vic) governs listening devices, optical devices, tracking devices and data surveillance, and it sets out when a device may and may not be used. We work strictly inside those limits, because evidence gathered outside them is worthless to you and creates a problem you did not have before. Evidence gathered outside those limits is worthless to you, and it hands the other side a much better story than the one you were trying to tell.

This is general information rather than legal advice. If your matter is already before a court, speak to your solicitor about what evidence will assist and we will work to that brief.

What it costs

There is no reason for pricing to be mysterious. Surveillance is charged by the hour with a minimum engagement, plus travel where the job takes us outside Ballarat. The real cost driver is not the hourly rate, it is how many hours are wasted watching nothing. We will tell you honestly if we think the pattern you have described means a shorter, better targeted window will get you the same answer for less. No work begins until you have agreed the scope and the figure in writing.

Our credentials

Anybody can claim experience. Here is what can be verified. Sydney Private Investigations has been operating since 2001 and trades as GORA Investigations Pty Ltd, ABN 34 600 932 438. We are a licensed agency. We hold VIC Master Licence Z6583160S. Every operative who works on your matter holds a current individual licence.

We are not a call centre that farms work out to whoever answers. You speak to an investigator, and if we cannot help we will say so rather than take a deposit.

Frequently asked questions

Will the person know they are being watched?

No. Covert surveillance only works if it stays covert. Our operatives use unmarked vehicles, change position and rotate where a job runs over several days.

Can I use the footage in court?

Evidence gathered lawfully and documented properly is generally admissible. We record continuously, keep the original files unaltered and can supply a statement from the operative if a matter proceeds.

How many hours do I need?

It depends on how predictable the pattern is. A specific window on a specific day may take four hours. Establishing a routine from scratch usually takes several sessions. We will give you a realistic estimate at the briefing.

Do you cover regional areas outside Ballarat?

Yes. We travel throughout Victoria and charge travel separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.

How quickly can you start?

For most jobs in Ballarat we can deploy within twenty four to forty eight hours, and sooner for urgent matters.

Other things we do in Ballarat

We also cover Surveillance in Melbourne, Surveillance in Geelong, Surveillance in Bendigo.

Talk to an investigator about Ballarat

Call 1300 773 293. The line is answered twenty four hours a day. If it turns out we are the wrong people for your problem, we will point you at the right ones.

If you would rather write to us, use the contact form and we will come back to you the same day.