Anti-corruption business set up in the South West

Francis Clark is advising a newly established business which is targeting the South West’s corporate sector as clients for its expert investigation and surveillance services.

Churchill Global Consultants (CGC) specialises in overt and covert surveillance, infiltration and both targeted and random integrity testing to detect and prevent criminal activity and serious misconduct by company directors and employees.

The business’ corporate services also embrace reviewing quality assurance in terms of failings in training, personnel or customer service, due diligence and advising on harassment, anti-corruption and whistle-blowing policies.

CGC is owned and managed by David and Sarah Edwards both former Detective Inspectors and both with over 30 years experience as Senior Investigating Officers including working with Specialist Operations and the Anti-Corruption Squad at New Scotland Yard, the National Crime Squad and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) as well as countless international assignments.

The husband and wife team have already built a national and international client base including large businesses, law firms and international banks but decided to locate their headquarters near to Sarah Edwards’ Cornwall roots.

David Edwards, who is shy of publicity due to his long career of infiltration of criminal groups,says that poor corporate governance often leads to opportunities for criminality especially theft, fraud and blackmail.

He said: “Recent years have seen the introduction of anti-money laundering legislation and the Bribery Act which recognise the potential for corruption in all types of corporate entities.

“However, while businesses have taken their responsibilities on board, few have any real understanding of how criminal activity is undertaken or the necessary means to identify corruption or potentially corrupt employees.

“Both Sarah and I and all the operatives we deploy nationwide are undoubtedly the very best trained anywhere and the specialist skills we have acquired over many years are totally transferable to the corporate world.”

Sarah Edwards added: “We don’t primarily see ourselves as private investigators and we don’t take on matrimonial cases. We apply our skills and techniques to the same standards as the police and we are meticulous in meeting the requirements of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

“This means that if our investigations lead to court proceedings, our case is unlikely to fail because of some minor oversight or through clever manipulation by a defence counsel. We will have covered all bases.”

CGC is advised by Plymouth based Francis Clark partner Martin Atkins who said: “David and Sarah have built a solid client based through word of mouth and they advise some law firms, national institutions and international banks. However, their work is equally applicable to any business of any size that employs people and where there is the potential for criminal behaviour.

“They can deal equally with corporate fraud on a grand scale of a small enterprise where the owner/manager thinks someone has their fingers in the till.

“They can certainly save a business at risk considerable sums of money and I am unaware of any other consultancy providing their services with the same level of experience and competence.”

David Edwards said: “We are primarily hands-on investigators with little experience of actually running a business. Martin’s support and guidance in getting us started and advising us on our business plan and growth strategy has been immense.

“It has allowed us to concentrate on the sharp end of the business with the confidence that we are well structured, compliant with a vision for the future.”