Member News – November Issue 2025

Message from Kate

You may be wondering how the day-to-day activities of our association are handled – how our events are organised, how the newsletter is produced and, most importantly, how our memberships are kept up to date.

My name is Kate, and I’m the admin at AISP. Amongst other things, I handle memberships, emails, newsletters, and the day-to-day administration and running of the association.

Although my background isn’t in private investigation or security, I really enjoy supporting the industry and connecting with our members. It seems that you all have a story as to why or how you got into the industry, and I enjoy learning more about the way investigators and security professionals work and how the association can better support you.

I work part-time for the association, and my hours are flexible around the demands of my two young daughters. My daily activities with AISP normally involve a combination of coffee and an ever-growing to-do list. As I am flexible with my work hours, the best way to reach me is via our admin email and I will get back to you with either a solution to your query or a contact who may be able to answer your questions promptly.

If you need assistance with your membership, renewals, have any newsletter suggestions or just want to know more about the association, I am here to assist – feel free to contact me at admin@aisp.org.au.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Christmas meeting on 3 December.

Get in touch

We love hearing from our members.

• Email – admin@aisp.org.au
• Website – Association of Investigators and Security Professionals (AISP)
• LinkedIn – Association of Investigators and Security Professionals (AISP)

Upcoming Christmas Meeting

Join us for our Christmas meeting on Wednesday 3 December at The Blackburn Hotel from 12.00pm–1.30pm.

Westfield gift vouchers are to be won.

Please book in before Friday 28 November.

Upcoming AISP Meeting Dates – 2026

Please note the following confirmed meeting dates for 2026:

• 11 March
• 17 June
• 9 September
• 2 December

We look forward to seeing all members at these upcoming sessions. Further details and agendas will be shared closer to each date.

Have your say

We’d love your input as we plan future meetings and networking sessions.

What time of day works best for you?

• Breakfast catch-up (7.30am–8.30am)
• Lunch session (12.00pm–1.00pm)
• Afternoon drink (4.00pm–5.00pm)

And what day of the week works best?

Please take a moment to let us know so we can plan future meetings around our busy members. To have your say, send an email to admin@aisp.org.au.

Message from Stephen – Strengthened Government Engagement

Dear Members and Non-Members,

Following on from my previous communication regarding the Private Security Regulations 2025 and related legislative reforms, I am pleased to provide a further update on the significant progress made in recent weeks.

VSIAC meeting

I recently met with representatives from several government departments involved in the Victorian Security Industry Advisory Council (VSIAC). During these meetings, I provided a comprehensive briefing that outlined the specific subsections of legislation still creating operational and compliance difficulties for the private investigation sector, along with some practical, evidence-based solutions to address them.

The discussion also included a detailed presentation on the impact of the Portable Long Service Leave Scheme, explaining how the 1.8% contribution continues to place an unfair financial and administrative burden on investigation firms. Officials acknowledged that the scheme was never designed with our employment model in mind and that it warrants further review. This is a big step forward.

Last week, I was personally invited to Parliament for discussions with policy advisers who are assisting in applying further pressure regarding:

1. The unresolved legislative and regulatory issues still affecting investigators.
2. The Portable Long Service Leave Scheme.
3. The potential to work directly with the policy area responsible for shaping the next phase of legislation regarding general security industry reform.

This represents a significant advancement in our advocacy efforts, potentially ensuring that the private investigation industry has a direct voice in the policy development process within Victoria.

I am also pleased to confirm that I have been invited to a potential upcoming meeting being arranged with the Deputy Premier, the Honourable Ben Carroll MP, who also serves as the Minister for Education, WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

This meeting will provide a valuable opportunity to address the broader systemic issues that the private security and investigation industries have faced in dealing with these departments, particularly those relating to regulatory interpretation, compliance overlap and administrative inefficiencies.

Having access at this level will allow us to present the industry’s position clearly, supported by factual examples and constructive recommendations for reform across multiple areas.

These developments highlight the growing recognition of the issues our industry has long faced and the effectiveness of sustained, fact-based advocacy. The AISP committee and I remain committed to ensuring that both Private Investigators and Security Professionals are properly represented and that future regulation reflects the realities of our professions.

Thank you for your continued trust, engagement and support as we move into this next phase of discussion and reform.

Yours faithfully
Stephen Scahill
President, Association of Investigators & Security Professionals

How to Get in Touch with the Vice President of Investigations

By Lisa Carse, AISP Vice President of Investigations & Managing Director, CHS Investigations
Email: vpinvestigations@aisp.org.au

In an industry built on accuracy, integrity and discretion, communication is everything. As Vice President of Investigations, my role is to support our members, strengthen industry collaboration, and ensure that investigative professionals have the resources and representation they need to operate effectively and ethically.

Whether you’re seeking guidance on best practice, raising an industry concern or exploring professional development opportunities, I encourage you to reach out. Here’s how to ensure your communication reaches the right place – and gets the right response.

1. Be clear about your objective

When getting in touch, briefly outline the reason for your contact – whether it’s about case management issues, training or networking opportunities. A clear subject line or opening statement helps direct your enquiry efficiently and ensures I can respond with the right information or connect you with the appropriate resource.

2. Use secure and professional channels

Given the sensitive nature of investigative work, confidentiality is paramount. Please contact me via the official AISP email vpinvestigations@aisp.org.au. Avoid sending case-sensitive material through social media channels – these are not monitored for investigative correspondence.

3. Include relevant background

If your enquiry relates to a specific case type, regulation or professional issue, include a concise overview of the context. This allows for a more informed and targeted response and helps maintain the professional integrity expected within our field.

4. Respect confidentiality and ethics

As investigators, we uphold the principles of privacy, accuracy and accountability. Please ensure any shared information complies with relevant legal and ethical standards. Sensitive information should be de-identified or redacted where appropriate.

5. Availability and response times

While I make every effort to respond promptly, please understand that I run a busy office and our investigative schedules are demanding. All enquiries are acknowledged within a reasonable timeframe and, where necessary, escalated to the appropriate committee or specialist.

6. Building a professional dialogue

Communication is not just about contact – it’s about connection. I encourage members and colleagues to use our exchanges as an opportunity to collaborate, share insights and elevate the standard of investigative practice across the profession.

How to contact

• Email: vpinvestigations@aisp.org.au
• Website: www.aisp.org.au
• Phone: 03 9894 1940

In closing: Open, respectful and well-structured communication is the foundation of effective investigation. I look forward to connecting with professionals who share a commitment to high standards, transparency and continual improvement in our field.

Training and Skill-Developing

I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about training.

Do you have lots of experience but lack a formal qualification? Have you considered an RPL?

What is an RPL?

RPL stands for Recognition of Prior Learning.

The security and investigations industry is often overlooked when it comes to upskilling. Our industry has many people with a wealth of experience but lacking formal qualifications.

Some of the courses you can obtain via RPL include:

• Investigations
• Certificate II and III in Security Operations
• Certificate III in Bodyguard
• Certificate IV in Security Management or Risk Analysis

Having these formal qualifications allows you to improve job prospects and build a strong footprint in the security industry.

If you would like to know more, please send us an email at admin@aisp.org.au and one of our specialists will be in touch with you.

Who Are the International Investigation Associations?

There are many international associations that cater for investigators who wish to be members. Most global associations offer membership opportunities and allow you not only to search for overseas investigators to assist with your work requirements, but also to offer yourself as a local operator who can handle work from global clients and other members.

Although there are many associations, two that stand out are the CII (Council of International Investigators) and the WAD (World Association of Detectives).

The CII has about 300 members globally and has been operating for more than 50 years. They currently have eight Australian members. This association holds mid-year and annual conferences and online meetings and provides investigators with training as well as access to global clients and other members. Their next annual conference is in Prague in September 2026.

The WAD has been around for 100 years, having recently celebrated its centenary with a meeting in Chicago. They have 1,000 members, of which 26 are from Australia and eight from New Zealand. Again, this is an organisation that allows for global reach and the opportunity to further your education through attendance at conferences where global investigative activities and new investigation strategies are discussed. The WAD’s next annual conference is also in September, in Cannes, France.

If you’re interested in joining one of these associations, check out their websites for further details or contact:

• CII – www.cii2.org, contact Michael Symons on 0438 888 651
• WAD – www.wad.net, contact Craig Douglas at craig@crdouglas.com.au

By Paul Hart

AI or Human Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly become part of our everyday lives, often without us even realising it. Predictive text on our phones, spam filters in our inboxes, voice-to-text assistants and smart search engines are all examples of AI quietly working in the background. In the investigations industry, these subtle tools are already shaping the way information is gathered, analysed and presented.

The promise of AI is compelling. It can process vast amounts of data at incredible speed, recognise patterns that might take humans hours or days to spot, and assist investigators in managing large volumes of open-source information. AI-driven facial recognition, document summarisation and language translation tools have already improved efficiency and accuracy in certain areas of investigative work. Used correctly, AI can help investigators focus more time on critical analysis and decision-making rather than repetitive administrative tasks.

However, the rapid adoption of AI also brings challenges. Algorithms can amplify existing biases, misinterpret nuanced language or deliver results that appear authoritative but lack contextual accuracy. In an industry where reputation, privacy and ethical standards are paramount, relying solely on automated results can be dangerous. A misinterpreted phrase, a mistranslated document or a false data correlation can have serious consequences for an investigation and for the people involved. That is why human intelligence (HI) remains irreplaceable.

Human investigators apply judgement, experience and contextual awareness – qualities that no algorithm can replicate. Unlike machines, people can interpret tone, sarcasm, motive and cultural cues; we can connect seemingly unrelated dots and apply empathy to sensitive situations. Humans collaborate, debate and challenge assumptions in ways AI simply cannot. These skills are critical when forming conclusions or presenting evidence where accuracy and fairness are essential.

Humans also have the ability to ask the questions that AI cannot. Questions such as: Does this make sense in the broader context? Is this evidence reliable or misleading? Could there be an alternative explanation? These are not just technical checks; they are the essence of investigative thinking. AI should therefore be seen as an assistive tool, not a replacement. Its findings must always be reviewed and verified through human analysis to ensure accuracy, context and ethical compliance.

The best outcomes are achieved when AI and HI work together – AI to accelerate information gathering, and HI to apply insight, logic and wisdom to what the data actually means.

As the investigation industry continues to evolve, the most successful professionals will be those who learn how to harness AI responsibly, recognising its strengths, understanding its weaknesses and ensuring that human oversight remains at the core of every decision.

AI can enhance our capabilities. Used blindly, it can undermine them.

By David MacLeod

AISP Hall of Fame – My Experiences as a Private Eye

Robert A. Jackson began his life as a private investigator in Melbourne in 1962, entering a profession that, at the time, was a rare and tightly regulated world of secrecy, sharp instincts and quiet observation. At just twenty-one, he was encouraged by retired Sergeant John Langham and barrister David Sonnenberg to apply for a Private Enquiry Agent’s licence – a process that required police vetting, court approval and good character references.

Once licensed, he joined Langham’s MI-4 Detective Agency in St Kilda and quickly found himself immersed in the hidden dramas of human nature. Jackson’s earliest work centred on matrimonial investigations, gathering evidence of adultery for divorce cases. These operations demanded patience, courage and a steady nerve. Agents would spend long nights alone, watching from parked cars or shadowy streets, recording movements and quiet meetings.

The goal was rarely to “catch” couples in the act, but to prove that adultery could have taken place or that the opportunity and inclination existed. He describes the intensity of these “divorce raids”, when agents would confront couples after days of surveillance, often in highly charged and emotional situations. Tempers flared, accusations flew and the presence of the investigators themselves sometimes provoked violence.

Jackson’s personal rule was never to take photographs during these moments. He believed such evidence humiliated clients and escalated tension. Instead, his reports relied on careful, factual observation and the composure of an agent under pressure.

As the decades passed, Jackson’s work expanded beyond domestic surveillance to a wide range of investigations for prominent clients, solicitors and businesses. He led teams of dedicated agents and maintained a reputation for professionalism in a field that demanded discretion and courage.

Reflecting on his long career, Jackson lamented the decline of the traditional “private eye” trade. Changing laws, stricter licensing requirements and modern restrictions transformed what was once a varied, unpredictable and deeply human profession into a narrower, more administrative role. Though retired for many years, he remained proud of the legacy of those early pioneers who worked with intuition rather than technology.

He closed his memoir with a touch of humour and nostalgia: his last official licence and personal documents were lost, along with his wallet, in a Moroccan airport – “a story for another time”. It was a fitting end for a man whose life had been spent chasing truths that were always half-hidden, and whose experiences captured a bygone era of private investigation in Australia.

To read the full story written by Robert A. Jackson, please head to our website – it can be found in the news section.

What Does Your Technician Use to Do a Proper TSCM Sweep?

By Richard James

The reality: a sweep is not one tool

A thorough TSCM sweep combines different technologies and physical search skills to cover the range of threats. Different detectors find different threats. A single detector simply cannot reliably detect everything.

Below are the main categories and examples of the tools we use at RIVICA and what each one does.

• Wide-band RF spectrum analyser (OSCOR Green, 24 GHz) – scans radio frequency (RF) bands quickly and captures transmitting devices and unusual emissions across a broad range. Essential to detect active RF transmitters and to map spectrum activity over time.
• Telephone and line analysers (TALAN family) – inspect analogue, digital and VoIP lines for audio leakage, tapping hardware, suspicious signalling or anomalies on the wiring that a pure RF sweep will miss. These instruments combine oscilloscope views, line-noise analysis and packet/FFT views for modern telecoms.
• Non-linear junction detectors (NLJD, e.g. ORION series) – detect semiconductor junctions in walls, furniture and devices. NLJDs can locate electronics even when they are switched off or not transmitting. They are a physical-property detector rather than a simple RF listener.
• Specialist near-field and broadband receivers – identify low-power near-field transmissions and can be tuned to pinpoint and characterise modulation types and signal sources. These receivers complement the spectrum analyser and NLJD.
• Digital forensics and device analysis tools (Cellebrite UFED & Physical Analyser) – when mobile devices or memory cards are relevant, properly licenced forensic extraction and analysis tools are required to preserve evidence and produce admissible reports. These are not consumer apps; they are full forensic toolkits used by law enforcement and professional examiners.

Why this matters

Modern threats are multi-vector. A covert camera may transmit over Wi-Fi, a spy microphone may be hard-wired into a telephone pair, and a tracker may be a passive device that only responds to a close interrogation. No single detector covers all modalities.

Tools need calibration, interpretation and cross-correlation. Spectrum traces, waterfall plots and NLJD returns are not self-evident. You need trained operators who can separate benign signals from malicious ones and who understand building wiring, shielding effects and RF propagation.

Forensic handling is required for chain of custody. If a device or data is recovered, the way it is extracted, documented and analysed determines whether it will be usable in a legal or commercial dispute. That requires the right hardware and accepted forensic processes.

My frustration

Too many operators announce themselves as “TSCM” after buying a single scanner and attending a weekend course. That risks giving clients a false sense of security. A sweep performed without the right combination of tools, methodical search and experienced interpretation can miss a threat or, worse, produce false positives that cost time and money.

TSCM is a professional service. Presenting it as a cheap, fast checkbox undermines the profession and puts clients at risk.

Experience matters

I have spent three decades working in policing and covert investigations. In my earlier roles, my unit installed covert devices for authorised operations. That background informs how I approach a sweep.

Knowing how devices are installed and what they are capable of helps you identify the likely hiding places, indicators of compromise and the correct countermeasures. Experience teaches you what to trust in a trace and what requires further physical inspection or forensic follow-up. My team’s work blends equipment, process and practical experience to deliver defensible results. (This is a personal statement of experience.)

Practical advice for anyone buying a sweep

• Ask for the equipment list. A credible provider will be transparent about the tools they use and why.
• Ask about training and qualifications. TSCM is a skills-based discipline taught by specialist providers. Weekend familiarity is not the same as operational competence.
• Ask about reporting standards and chain of custody. If a device or data is found, you will need properly documented evidence.
• If your concern involves mobile phones or digital evidence, ensure the provider has access to recognised forensic extraction tools and follows accepted forensic processes.

A final note

If you need assurance, do not gamble on a single tool or a weekend course. A proper sweep is an investment in certainty. Equipment alone is not the answer; disciplined methodology and experienced operators are what make a sweep reliable.

Drone Forensics: The Definitive Australian Introduction

By Cameron at Flying Glass

Why it matters

Drones are no longer niche – they are everywhere in construction, media, public safety, agriculture and investigations. In Australia, they are increasingly showing up in disputes, accidents and legal scenarios. Drone forensics can answer key questions: what flew, when, where, how and under what configuration.

What it covers

• Types of evidence that matter: the aircraft, the remote controller, the flying device (phone/tablet), cloud services and storage media.
• The legal and regulatory framework in Australia: aviation rules under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Part 101, plus evidence law (authenticity, reliability, relevance).
• Key workflow for a defensible investigation: securing the scene, detailed documentation, hashing data, using the right tools, defining hypotheses and presenting findings clearly.
• Common data elements you’ll find: GPS tracks, altitude, battery data, take-offs/landings, gimbal/camera data, app logs and cloud data.
• Reporting and presentation: how to structure your report, visualise timelines and flight paths, and present in plain English for non-technical readers.
• Risks, ethics and future trends: encryption and vendor lock-in, data contamination, privacy/consent issues, emerging autonomous systems and remote ID legislation.

Bottom line: If you deal with drones – whether for aerial operations, incident response, investigations, insurance or security – this article offers a practical, Australian-centred view of what drone forensics involves and how to make it robust and admissible.

Read the full article:  Drone forensics: evidence, law and integrity .