By: Claude Khoury

Spousal abuse comes in many forms including verbal, psychological, emotional, financial, physical, sexual, spiritual, harassment and stalking.

Have you experienced one or all of the following:

• How does my partner know where I go, who I am with, what I am doing all the time? I am worried he might suddenly confront me.
• My private conversations are being repeated to me by others.
• I am being intimidated and stalked, I keep looking over my shoulder.
• I am worried about the welfare of my children
• He/She has breached all the court orders (AVO’s, ADVO’s,) and does not care about the consequences.

Over the last two decades, NSI investigators have seen a sharp increase in the use of spyware and hi-tech bugs by abusive spouses. In many of these cases, the abusive spouse had been the subject of an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order, Apprehended Violence Order, a Family Violence Intervention Order, or a Family Violence Safety Notice.

This is a direct result of the increased availability of equipment and software that can be readily purchased online. Devices such as electronic bugs, listening devices, hidden cameras, cellular interception, Bluetooth interception, laser microphones, burst transmitters, other similar eavesdropping devices, and spyware are all easily available over the internet to anyone with a credit card. As a result, there is now a greater threat present than ever before, especially for at-risk women and children. Your privacy, location, and safety can be endangered. Unfortunately, our experience has also shown, many of these offenders who are currently involved in divorce proceedings will use any technology available to them to stalk, harass, intimidate, blackmail, or harm their estranged spouse or children.

When so much is at risk, the benefits of a full, comprehensive Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM) Bug Sweep and security audit can be lifesaving.

Most basic sweeps provided by other service providers will only scan for transmissions from covert devices and electronic signatures. What happens when the bug is not a transmitter and its electronic signature is masked by hiding it within other electronics? Companies only scanning in this way will not be able to detect a recording device installed within other electronics. You may get the “all clear”, but because they didn’t have the necessary equipment or specialised training, you and your children may still be in danger!

Our experienced TSCM Investigators will conduct private TSCM bug sweeps to the same comprehensive standard we provide for our corporate and government clientele. As a result, we have found surveillance devices hidden in:

• Light fixtures
• Air-con vents
• Wall cavities
• Ceiling tiles
• Powerpoints
• Smoke detectors
• Clothes hooks
• Alarm clocks
• Phone Docks and chargers
• Children’s toys
• Appliances
• Various electronics such as DVD players
• Furniture
• Vehicles

Additionally, we have the means to provide digital forensic examinations on your, and your children’s phones as we own the same digital forensic equipment as used by law enforcement agencies worldwide. We can provide peace of mind by uncovering for certain, whether your phones have been infected with monitoring and tracking spyware.

Lastly, NSI are proud supporters of the Staying Home Leaving Violence program. The aim of the Staying Home Leaving Violence program is to prevent you and your children becoming homeless or having to move away from your support system of family and friends, and the school and community where you live.

The program works in cooperation with NSW Police to remove the perpetrator (the violent partner) from the family home so that you and your children can stay safely where you are. It provides a range of support services, such as safety planning, improving home security, help in managing finances, support for children, and helping you with the complicated legal process.

The providers of the program understand that it’s the violent person – your partner or ex-partner – who is responsible for their own abusive behaviour and is committing a crime by hurting you and or your children.

Women and men separated from a violent partner but who continue to experience abuse from their ex-partner are a priority for the program. Priority is also given to women and men who have experienced domestic and family violence.

If you need help

If you are the victim of domestic violence and fear for your safety please call the authorities on 000.

If you are concerned you may be the victim of illegal surveillance, please call NSI Global for a confidential consultation on 1300 000 NSI or fill out the form below and one of our specialist consultants will be in contact with you. We can provide Technical Surveillance Counter Measures bug sweeps of your home or car, spyware forensic analysis of your phone and devices, and investigation services.

For more information on the Staying Home Leaving Violence Domestic program, please call the domestic violence hotline (24 hours) on 1800 65 64 63.