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AILSA - LONDON, GUILDFORD & BRIGHTON |
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Ailsa began working for Answers at the beginning of July, and it hasn’t taken her long to establish herself as a valuable and central part of the business. After finishing an art foundation course at Wimbledon University she came to work for Answers as part of the long summer before she attends Brighton University to study a ‘textiles with business studies MDes’. Realising the potential her gift of art had, she was soon assigned the job of re-designing the ‘Challenge 21’ posters (you will now see these in pubs and off licences across the UK, and thanks to Ailsa’s keen eye and arty skills, now you’ll probably notice them!) |
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When talking of her first day of work for Answers, a smile spreads across Ailsa’s face- “well” she says, “It wasn’t exactly your average first day on a new job! Within a couple of hours after arriving, I was whisked off to Gatwick airport for a surveillance job, which resulted in me having a 45 minute chat with the subject in which she told me practically her life story, including multiple details regarding the situation we were investigating! She then met with her ‘boyfriend’ and they left together on the train”… sounds like the mission was accomplished! |
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Ailsa also works closely with the ‘Challenge 21’ and ‘Think 21’ programmes, recently being interviewed by the Brighton Argus when they accompanied us visiting stores for clients. The “Challenge 21” initiative encourages retailers and licensees to seek proof of age from anybody who appears to be under the age of 21. Occasionally dressing in school uniform, and generally trying to look as young as possible (much to her disgust!) Ailsa and her colleagues are served in retailers across the UK, using hidden cameras and voice recording devices, providing retailers and pubcos with the evidence they need to improve their own standards and see if their policies are being adopted on the shop floor |
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In regard to the Challenge 21 programme Ailsa says “it is fun when you get away with it. It’s easier to buy cigarettes because people don’t take so much notice as they do with, say, a bottle of vodka. People don’t concentrate on it so much because the age recently went up from 16 to 18; I’m more surprised when they do ask for ID! It’s a great job and a fun day’s work, especially when I get to sample the products at the end of it!” |
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There are other aspects to the job - surveillance for example, which can be exciting for the first half an hour but it does get to the point where I feel like I’ve spent my entire week sitting in a car watching a house or an office. I like the computer forensics aspect of the job - I love the feeling of accomplishment when you’ve been searching through hidden or retrieved files for three weeks and you finally find the piece of evidence you need!” I have also learnt the art of taking and comparing fingerprints, often a fundamental part of theft and fraud investigations |
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“The people within the business make the job all the more worthwhile- we have a very close-knit, family like situation within the office and we generally have a really good time together. At first I thought it was strange how people didn’t take a set ‘lunch break’ but now I see that that time is made up after hours in the pub!” I was a bit grumpy, however, to wake up one morning and find my picture plastered all over the Surrey Advertiser! |
| Ailsa featured in local press: |
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Brighton Argus reporting on a day with two of our young private investigators |
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Surrey Advertiser reporting on a visit to the Guildford office of Answers Investigation |
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