Founder and Principal Investigator
A veteran private investigator, Paul Hawkes has almost fifty years’ experience in the industry. He established Research Associates in 1977 and steadily developed his expertise in solving blackmail/extortion, complex tracing (missing persons), and covert surveillance services. Over his prolific career, he has progressively acquired a comprehensive range of well-placed contacts, industry knowledge, techniques, and resources conducting numerous investigations worldwide.
Paul’s expertise has evolved at the forefront of the profession. His experience ranges from such high-profile, highly publicised cases such as the Brinks-Mat gold robbery and the Polly Peck/Asil Nadir fraud to countless highly confidential investigations. Paul is famously discreet. His vast experience, in a myriad of cases, has given him a rare insight into the personal dynamics of private investigation.
The biggest change he has witnessed in recent years is the move towards Open-Source Intelligence (analysing social media etc.) to produce actionable intelligence. Paul sees private investigation as a quasi-magic act. “When you solve a case, it’s like pulling a rabbit out of the hat.”
Whether you require discreet surveillance, background checks, blackmail investigations, or corporate intelligence, our experienced investigators are here to assist.