Research Associates is an elite private investigations provider directed as a family business, offering bespoke solutions. Research Associates is operated by professional investigators of long standing and staffed by personnel with a proven professional history, typically with former Armed Forces, HM Customs and Police backgrounds. All personel are Security Industry Authority (SIA) qualified in all relevant fields.

Since being established in August 1977, Research Associates have planned and performed highly focused investigation projects and operations for a variety of clients, ranging from government offices, multi-national companies, large and small firms, legal practices, as well as numerous private individuals. The majority of our core business originates from private clients referred via professional contacts in the legal profession. Simply put; we are trustworthy and proficient in our approach to investigation.

Research Associates operate both nationally and internationally without compromise to the high quality our client's have consistantly enjoyed since 1977. All directors are full members of the Association of British Investigators (ABI), the only professional investigations association fully recognised by the government, officially endorsed by the legal professionon, requiring a clear Criminal Conviction Certificate, Professional Indemnity Insurance and Data Protection Notification, as well as sitting before the ABI's Board of Examination selection panel as part of the requirement for ABI membership.

Research Associates' principal -Paul Hawkes- is also a member of the prestigious World Association of Detectives (WAD), the World Association of Private Investigators (WAPI), the Institute of Professional Investigators (IPI) as well as the British and European Polygraph Association (BEPA). Research Associates are the sole agents for the British and European Polygraph Association, throughout Europe.

Research Associates has built an unrivaled portfolio of contacts since 1977 and prides itself in offering a no-nonsense, straight talking investigation, research and information service to every client.

Research Associates always assign a project manager whose responsibility will be to discern and understand the needs and expectations of each client, from instruction through to completion. It is normal to receive a full written report of all findings. The project manager liaises with the client for regular two-way consultation sessions relating to ongoing projects/cases.

020 7854 9000

PAUL HAWKES: Director (MD). Principal Investigator. Born 1959:

Paul Hawkes is an unusual detective in that he has spent the whole of his working life developing into an accomplished investigator. He first established himself as a professional investigator within the UK investigation industry in August 1977, soon developing a specialty in complex 'locates' (finding missing people) worldwide and covert surveillance services. During the 1980's and mid 1990's he became a senior investigator and developed a specialisation in worldwide asset identification and location, as well as providing strategic investigative information, acting near exclusively to legal and investigative firms and later to select private individuals and government; regularly working on high profile cases in the international arena.

'Discreet Investigations'

Paul Hawkes also managed and ran a renowned but very private research agency working out of Liechtenstein during the 1980's and 1990's, later redeveloping Research Associates into one of the UK's premier 'full service agencies' subsequent to the changes in UK and worldwide legislation during the late 1990's. Both Paul Hawkes and Research Associates have been the subject of numerous low-key articles appearing in the international and UK press; including The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent.

In the public domain Paul Hawkes is well documented being involved in investigations into numerous high profile matrimonial matters, strategic covert surveillance, as well as fraud cases involving multi-million pound losses, where retrieval of funds were high on the agenda. These include Polly Peck -Nasil Adir, the Brinks Mat Gold Robbery; identifying funds sequestrated by the Government during the 1980's Miners Strike, and during the Gulf War helped identify funds held by correspondent banks in London by Rafidian Bank of Iraq and Rasheed Bank of Iraq. Paul Hawkes also initiated the original focused investigation into Harold Brown (Diana, Princess of Wales' butler), which led directly to the police investigation and subsequent arrest of former Royal butlers, Harold Brown and Paul Burrell. He was also lead investigator, working in both the UK and South Africa in the infamous Bruce Grobbelaar libel case involving the Sun newspaper (please note that all the aforementioned cases appear in the public domain). Numerous prominent private clients remain forever anonymous and confidential. Paul Hawkes is renowned for his consistent discretion and sensitivity in all matters.

Paul Hawkes: CURRENT:

Currently the majority owner and acting as the managing partner of 'Research Associates', a full service agency offering high spec' investigative assistance to select clientele worldwide; Paul Hawkes is a longstanding full member of the Association of British Investigators (ABI) and regularly sits on the ABI's board of examination, as well as occupying other branch positions. In 2010, Paul Hawkes was nominated for the Association of British Investigators's prestigious 'Investigator of The Year'. Paul Hawkes is a past member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) and a full member of the Institute of Professional Investigators (IPI), a longstanding full member of the elite World Association Detectives (WAD) and full member of the World Association of Private Investigators (WAPI), the British and European Polygraph Association (BEPA), The National Association of Investigative Specialists (NAIS), as well as an Associate of Internationale Kommission der Detektiv-Verb-nde.

Paul Hawkes holds a clear Criminal Conviction Certificate -Clear; dated 18 June 2009 (Disclosure No 110100074181882). This certificate is renewed every two years.

Paul Hawkes authored a series of articles originally written as 'Insider' for 'Information Security Management' magazine, during 2001/2002. He has given numerous talks on the art and logics of investigation; including a recorded lecture entitled 'Secret Lives' for the Wellcome Foundation, within The Identity Project presented within a major exhibition hosted by 'The Wellcome Collection' in January 2010. Having studied extensively, Paul Hawkes has a multifaceted understanding of counselling and anger management skills, and was instrumental in helping establish the British Association of Anger Management (BAAM).

Paul Hawkes is a fully trained scuba diver/open water diver (PADI certified) and an award winning swimmer/teacher. He is also a certified co-leader in The ManKind Project (MKP), a progressive worldwide leadership-training organisation and has co-lead intensive MKP trainings throughout the UK, Europe, North America, and Africa. In 2004, he won The ManKind Project's prestigious 'Ron Hering Mission of Service Award'. Paul Hawkes has also studied mixed martial arts for over four decades (Judo, Fanchento Kung Fu and Kickboxing). He is also well known as having a half-eaten bowl of porridge near-permanently on his desk.

Paul Hawkes is well known by his peers and clients alike, as a trustworthy, straight speaking, intuitive and impartial investigator with an innate ability to understand the fundamental overview of an often-complex situation. Paul typically presents clients with perceptive, focused and pragmatic resolution to the most difficult of situations and has a reputation for “pulling the rabbit out of the hat”.

Paul Hawkes: SPECIALISED FOCUS:

Private covert surveillance/observation and crisis management, close protection, electronic counter-measures (GSM and bug 'sweeping'), profiling, due diligence, locating missing persons/debtors, and fraud investigation: Call Paul on 020 7854 9000.

MARTIN TOMLINS-YOUNG -Director. Senior Investigator. Born 1972:

Martin Tomlins-Young first established himself as a professional investigator within the UK investigation industry in September 1994, from a primarily corporate research background. Two years later in 1996 after developing a specialty of locating missing persons, initially within the UK and later internationally, Martin Tomlins-Young joined Research Associates. Over the following decade Martin proved himself as being unusually adept at both finding individuals (however complex or challenging the presenting situation) and creating in-depth background reports. He assisted in numerous cases for American Express, supporting their legal team specifically on international fraud and 'locate' matters initiated within the UK and Europe.

'In Depth Researching'

In the past decade, Martin Tomlins-Young also set up sophisticated systems for the focused investigation of 'birth relatives' (locating birth parents, birth siblings or children) as well as those involved with adoption and other complex locates. After becoming the director of Research Associates in 2002, Martin Tomlins-Young extended his expertise to include the high-end surveillance and profiling for which both he and Research Associates are renowned.

Martin Tomlins Young: CURRENT:

Currently a director, and acting as a partner within 'Research Associates'; a full service agency offering high spec investigative assistance to select clientele worldwide; Martin Tomlins-Young is a current full member in good standing of The Association of British Investigators (ABI).

Martin Tomlins-Young holds a clear Criminal Conviction Certificate -Clear; dated 13 August 2009 (Disclosure No 110100076304201). This certificate is renewed every two years.

Martin Tomlins-Young is renowned as a tenacious and lateral thinking puzzle solver -“always looking for a result” and always happy to look at the fine details of a situation. Martin Tomlins-Young typically offers clients resolution to their presenting situation, often using both clever and knowledgeable approaches to seemingly difficult, complicated or impossible matters.

Martin Tomlins Young: SPECIALISED FOCUS:
Private covert surveillance, profiling, due diligence, locating missing persons, birth relatives, those involved with adoption, debtor tracing and fraud investigation: Call Martin on 020 7854 9000.

OUT OF HOURS:

Paul Hawkes: 07778 163500

Martin Young: 07715 098569