Ways to Embrace Private Investigation in China

China has hundreds of thousands of people working as private detectives. Acquiring information on unfaithful spouses, or information on phone calls or bank accounts, to collecting debts - you name it and they can do it. While some of the detectives are indeed law-abiding, others, driven by money, have a tendency to break the law. What are the key points if China is to embrace the private investigation industry? Tingting has more.

A private detective surnamed Li was sentenced by Beijing's Chaoyang District Court to 7 months in jail and a 300 thousand yuan fine for running an illegal operation. Li helped track a man who had stolen thousands of yuan of cash and a BMW automobile from his client. Li also helped the client break into the guy's house and unlawfully detained the man for several hours.

Wang Dawei, a professor at China People's Public Security University says the sentence is a good sign.

"The sentence was made based on a clear law to regulate the private investigation industry. That's clear guidance for the future of the private investigation services in China. If the investigation measure is illegal, then the consequence is serious. "

Many insiders believe to really embrace China's private investigation industry, there are many points still left to be clarified, as the industry is a very special one, in which private detectives can easily cross the line of the law.

Some concerns are over the agencies' pricing for different services. At present, some agencies charge up to 7,000 yuan to check phone records, 6,000 yuan to find people's whereabouts, 1,500 yuan to follow someone, and still, there are many services with no price tag left to be negotiated between clients and the agency.

Driven by the high fees, many private detectives easily risk breaking the law to get the information their clients want.

Professor Qu Xinjiu from China University of Political Science and Law indicates the crucial point for private investigation companies to get on an equal footing with judicial investigation departments is to ensure the investigation means they use are justifiable and do not violate other people's privacy.

"For example, if you hire someone to set a bug in your own home, that's legal. But it's a whole different matter if you eavesdrop on others and probe into their privacy."

Wang Dawei, professor at China People's Public Security University, goes a step further by pointing out if properly dealt with, private investigation services can become an effective companion with judicial investigations.

"Nobody really knows the exact number of private detectives in China. But it's fair to say we have hundreds of thousands of them. Growing social demands justify their existence. I think private detectives could play a positive role. In China's Police Service Reform we have a saying that the 'police force is limited, but the power of civil society is unlimited.' If we gave some room for the private investigation industry to develop, I believe they could become a good supplement to the police force."

For CRI, I'm Tingting.