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  • Factual Investigations and Evidence Collection — Melbourne and Australia Wide

Something happened We find out exactly what.

RIVICA provides professional factual investigations for criminal law firms, corporations, insurers, and private clients across Melbourne and Australia. When an incident has already occurred and the full picture is unclear, disputed, or incomplete, our tea m goes into the field to locate witnesses, retrieve security footage, conduct neighbourhood inquiries, and build an evidence picture that holds up. Built on 34 years of law enforcement investigative methodology. Court – admissible reporting as standard.

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RIVICA Investigations & Covert Solutions Pty Ltd
  • who uses this service

Used by law firms, corporations, insurers, and private clients.

A factual investigation, also known as a circumstantial investigation, is the professional process of gathering evidence about an event that has already taken place. Rather than observing ongoing activity through surveillance, a factual investigation team goes into the field to find the witnesses, footage, and physical evidence that establishes exactly what happened.

RIVICA’s approach is built on over 34 years of law enforcement experience including complex criminal investigations and anti – corruption work at Detective Sergeant level. That background shapes the methodology, the standards, and the results.
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FOR CRIMINAL LAW FIRMS

When a client is charged with a serious offence, the police investigation builds the prosecution case. The defence team needs its own independent factual investigation to find the evidence that tells the other side of the story. RIVICA works directly with instructing solicitors and barristers, understands how prosecution cases are built, and knows exactly where the gaps appear. This is one of RIVICA’s most significant and specialised service areas.
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FOR CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESSES

Theft, fraud, workplace incidents, and criminal events on business premises require thorough independent investigation for insurance, legal, and disciplinary purposes. RIVICA conducts structured factual investigations for organisations that need a complete, documented evidence picture from an incident that has already occurred.
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FOR INSURERS AND CLAIMS MANAGERS

Where an insurance claim involves a disputed sequence of events, independent factual investigation establishe s the accurate picture through witness accounts, footage retrieval, and scene examination. All findings are documented to evidentiary standards suitable for claims assessment and legal proceedings.
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FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS

If you have been the victim of a crime and feel the matter has not been adequately investigated, RIVICA provides an independent factual investigation to build the evidence picture you need. Whether for a private prosecution, a civil claim, or your own peace of mind, our team pursues every available source of evidence on your behalf.
  • WHAT A FACTUAL INVESTIGATION INVOLVES

Every available source of evidence, systematically pursued.

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Neighbourhood and household inquiries

Our team conducts structured doorknock inquiries in the area where an incident occurred, speaking with residents, business owners, and bystanders who may have witnessed the event or hold relevant information. This kind of inquiry requires skill, experience, and the ability to build rapport quickly with people who may be reluctant to come forward. Our law enforcement background makes the team effective in this environment.
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Witness location and interview

Finding witnesses to an event, particularly weeks or months after it occurred, requires investigative skil l and persistence. RIVICA locates witnesses through intelligence gathering, records analysis, and field inquiries, then conducts professional interviews to obtain accurate, documented accounts suitable for legal proceedings.
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Security footage identification and retrieval

In the aftermath of a crime or incident, security footage from cameras in the area is among the most valuable evidence available and among the most time – sensitive. RIVICA identifies relevant camera locations, approaches businesses and property owners, and retrieves footage before it is overwritten or deleted. Speed and experience make the difference between securing critical evidence and missing it permanently.
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Scene examination and documentation

The team examines and documents the physical scene of an incident, recording evidence, identifying potential sources of information, and building a factual record of what the scene reveals.
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Third - party information gathering

Beyond direct witnesses and footage, experienced investigators know how to identify and approach other sources: people with indirect knowledge, businesses with relevant records, and individuals whose routines may have made them inadvertent witnesses to key events.
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Evidence packaging for legal proceedings

All evidence gathered is documented, preserved, and packaged to meet Australian evidentiary standards, whether for criminal proceedings, insurance claims, civil litigation, or internal investigations.
  • CRIMINAL DEFENCE INVESTIGATIONS

The defence team's investig ator: finding what the prosecution didn't pursue.

Supporting criminal law firms with defence factual investigations is one of RIVICA’s most specialised service areas, and one where our background provides an extraordinary advantage.

When a person faces serious charges, the police investigation is focused on building the prosecution case. RIVICA brings an insider’s understanding of exactly how that process works: what evidence gets pursued, what gets overlooked, and where the gaps typically appear. That knowledge, developed across more than three decades of frontline criminal investigation and anti – corruption work, is brought directly to bear in support of the defence.

RIVICA’s criminal defence investigation services include:

  • Locating and interviewing defe nce witnesses not identified or pursued by police
  • Identifying and retrieving security footage supporting the defence account
  • Conducting scene examinations and neighbourhood inquiries to establish an independent factual picture
  • Identifying inconsistencies and gaps in the prosecution's evidence
  • Building an independent timeline of events from third - party sources
  • Preparing evidentially sound witness statements and investigation reports for defence counsel
  • Providing investigative briefings to legal teams on the factual landscape of the case
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For law firms, RIVICA works directly with the instructing solicitor or barrister, takes direction on the defence strategy, and conducts field investigations to find the evidence that supports it.

  • TYPES OF INCIDENTS WE INVESTIGATE

From burglary to serious criminal matters.

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Burglary and break and enter

witness location, security footage retrieval, neighbourhood inquiries
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Assault and violence

inding witnesses, obtaining footage, interviewing peopl e with knowledge of events before and after the incident
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Theft and property crime

tracing stolen property, locating witnesses, building an evidence picture
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Workplace incidents

investigating criminal or misconduct events in a business environment

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Fraud an d financial crime

actual investigation supporting internal and legal proceedings
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Serious criminal matters

omprehensive factual investigation support for defence legal teams

Client Reviews

From the very beginning, the team was impressively responsive. They guided me through exactly what was needed and kept me updated every step of the way — even when there were no new developments. I was particularly pleased with how thorough the final report was. I’m really happy with the results and would happily recommend RIVICA to anyone in need of a trustworthy investigative service.

M

Yvonne Y.

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I have found RIVICA to deliver great results. Thorough and extremely professional. My company has used them several times and I strongly recommend.

R

Roland D.

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Richard was always the calm and practical voice at the end of the phone, with considered and expert advice on how best to collect the information required to address a sensitive matter. His insight into human behaviour reflects his years of investigation experience and gave me the courage to continue to be patient and work through all possible sources of evidence.

E

Eva C.

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Why Clients Choose RIVICA

What you get when you engage a team built on law enforcement methodology.
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34 years of investigative methodology, applied from day one.

RIVICA’s approach was not learned in a classroom. It was developed across more than three decades of frontline law enfor cement, criminal investigation, and anti – corruption work. That foundation shapes how every factual investigation is planned, conducted, and documented.

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Independent and objective.

RIVICA operates independently of police, prosecution, and any other party with an interest in the outcome. Every investigation finds the evidence that exists, wherever it leads.

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Speed matters and RIVICA moves fast.

Security footage gets overwritten. Witnesses move on and memories fade. RIVICA understands the urgency and mobilises quickly to secure evidence before it is lost.

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Court - admissible evidence and reporting.

Every piece of evidence gathered is documented and preserved to meet Australian evidentiary standards. Investigation reports are structured for use in legal proceedings a nd prepared to withstand cross – examination.

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Direct access to your investigating team.

Clients have direct access to the investigators working their matter, not a call centre or account manager. Every case is overseen by a principal investigator with the experience and accountability to deliver results.

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0% subcontracting.

Your investigation is conducted by our team under direct senior oversight. We do not outsource your matter to third – party operators.

Case Studies

How factual investigations have delivered results for our clients.
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Relevant to :

Assault Investigation Supporting Private Prosecution

A Melbourne individual had been the victim of a serious assault. Despite reporting to police, they felt the matter had not been pursued adequately. They engaged RIVICA to build an evidence base capable of supporting a private prosecution.

Considerable time had elapsed, making witness location and footage retrieval more challenging. RIVICA conducted a comprehensive investigation: locating and interviewing witnesses, conducting neighbour hood and venue inquiries, pursuing available footage sources, and building a detailed documented timeline of events. All evidence was gathered and preserved to criminal court evidentiary standards with chain of custody maintained throughout.

The investigation produced a comprehensive evidence package including witness statements, documented footage, and a detailed investigation report structured to criminal court standards. The client described RIVICA’s understanding of criminal evidentiary standards and persistence in pursuing every available source as invaluable.

Read More
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Relevant to :

Workplace Theft Investigation

A Melbourne business had suffered a series of thefts from their premises over several weeks. Internal processes had not identified the source and the matter had not progressed through police channels. The business needed an independent investigation to establish what was happening and build an evidence picture suitable for disciplinary or legal action.

RIVICA conducted a structured factual investigation, examining the premises, reviewing available footage, conducting discreet inquiries with relevant witnesses, and building a timeline of incidents from a vailable evidence. The entire investigation was conducted with complete discretion to avoid alerting individuals responsible.

The investigation established a clear factual picture of how the thefts had been conducted, identified the most likely source, and produced a comprehensive evidence package supporting both disciplinary proceedings and a police report. The business described RIVICA’s thoroughness and discretion as critical to the outcome.

Read More
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Relevant to :

Neighbourhood Inquiry and Witness Location Following Residential Burglary

A Melbourne homeowner returned to find their property broken into and a significant quantity of valuables stolen. Police had attended but the investigation had not progressed. The homeowner needed an independent team to pursue the matter.

RIVICA moved quickly, conducting a systematic doorknock inquiry of neighbouring properties and nearby businesses while simultaneously identifying and approaching camera owners in the vicinity to secure footage before it was overwritten. Witness accounts were documented professionally and all footage preserved as evidence.

The inquiry identified two witnesses who had observed a vehicle in the street at the relevant time. Security footage from a nearby business captured the vehicle clearly. The evidence package materially advanced a matter that had stalled. The homeowner described the team’s speed, professionalism, and thoroughness as making the difference.

Read More
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Relevant to :

Defence Witness Investigation for Serious Assault Charge

A Melbourne criminal law firm was defending a client charged with a serious assault. The prosecution relied heavily on a small number of witnesses whose accounts were inconsistent with the defendant’s version of events. The defence team needed an independent investigation to locate additional witnesses and retrieve footage supporting the defence account.

The incident had occurred several weeks before RIVICA was engaged, meaning some witnesses had dispersed and footage may have been overwritten. Working directly with the instructing solicitor, RIVICA identified gaps in the prosecution’s inquiry: camera locations not pursued, witnesses not interviewed, and an alternative timeline not explored. A comprehensive field investigation followed, including doorknock inquiries, witness location and interviews, and a systematic footage search.

The investigation located three witnesses whose accounts materially supported the defence position. Security footage from a location not pursued by police provided an independent record of events inconsistent with the prosecution’s timeline. The law firm described RIVICA’s investigative methodology and understandin g of criminal proceedings as exceptional.

Read More
  • CASE STUDIES

How factual investigations have delivered results for our clients.

Defence Witness Investigation for Serious Assault Charge

A Melbourne criminal law firm was defending a client charged with a serious assault. The prosecution relied heavily on a small number of witnesses whose accounts were inconsistent with the defendant’s version of events. The defence team needed an independent investigation to locate additional witnesses and retrieve footage supporting the defence account.

The incident had occurred several weeks before RIVICA was engaged, meaning some witnesses had dispersed and footage may have been overwritten. Working directly with the instructing solicitor, RIVICA identified gaps in the prosecution’s inquiry: camera locations not pursued, witnesses not interviewed, and an alternative timeline not explored. A comprehensive field investigation followed, including doorknock inquiries, witness location and interviews, and a systematic footage search.

The investigation located three witnesses whose accounts materially supported the defence position. Security footage from a location not pursued by police provided an independent record of events inconsistent with the prosecution’s timeline. The law firm described RIVICA’s investigative methodology and understandin g of criminal proceedings as exceptional.

Relevant to :

  • Criminal defence law firms
  • Serious assault matters
  • Defence investigations

Neighbourhood Inquiry and Witness Location Following Residential Burglary

A Melbourne homeowner returned to find their property broken into and a significant quantity of valuables stolen. Police had attended but the investigation had not progressed. The homeowner needed an independent team to pursue the matter.

RIVICA moved quickly, conducting a systematic doorknock inquiry of neighbouring properties and nearby businesses while simultaneously identifying and approaching camera owners in the vicinity to secure footage before it was overwritten. Witness accounts were documented professionally and all footage preserved as evidence.

The inquiry identified two witnesses who had observed a vehicle in the street at the relevant time. Security footage from a nearby business captured the vehicle clearly. The evidence package materially advanced a matter that had stalled. The homeowner described the team’s speed, professionalism, and thoroughness as making the difference.

Relevant to

  • Private clients
  • burglary matters
  • insurance claims

Workplace Theft Investigation

A Melbourne business had suffered a series of thefts from their premises over several weeks. Internal processes had not identified the source and the matter had not progressed through police channels. The business needed an independent investigation to establish what was happening and build an evidence picture suitable for disciplinary or legal action.
RIVICA conducted a structured factual investigation, examining the premises, reviewing available footage, conducting discreet inquiries with relevant witnesses, and building a timeline of incidents from a vailable evidence. The entire investigation was conducted with complete discretion to avoid alerting individuals responsible.
The investigation established a clear factual picture of how the thefts had been conducted, identified the most likely source, and produced a comprehensive evidence package supporting both disciplinary proceedings and a police report. The business described RIVICA’s thoroughness and discretion as critical to the outcome.

Relevant to

  • Corporations
  • HR teams
  • workplace theft and miscon duct

Assault Investigation Supporting Private Prosecution

A Melbourne individual had been the victim of a serious assault. Despite reporting to police, they felt the matter had not been pursued adequately. They engaged RIVICA to build an evidence base capable of supporting a private prosecution.
Considerable time had elapsed, making witness location and footage retrieval more challenging. RIVICA conducted a comprehensive investigation: locating and interviewing witnesses, conducting neighbour hood and venue inquiries, pursuing available footage sources, and building a detailed documented timeline of events. All evidence was gathered and preserved to criminal court evidentiary standards with chain of custody maintained throughout.
The investigation produced a comprehensive evidence package including witness statements, documented footage, and a detailed investigation report structured to criminal court standards. The client described RIVICA’s understanding of criminal evidentiary standards and persistence in pursuing every available source as invaluable.

Relevant to

  • Private clients
  • assault matters
  • private prosecution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between surveillance and a factual investigation?
Surveillance observes and documents ongoing activity in real time. A factual investigation reconstructs what has already happened by locating witnesses, obtaining footage, conducting inquiries, and building an evidence picture from an event that has already occurred. Both produce court – admissible evidence but serve different investigative purposes.
Yes. Licensed private investigators in Australia can approach and interview witnesses. RIVICA’s witness interviews are conducted professionally and documented in a manner suitable for use in legal proceedings.
Yes. Police investigations focus on the prosecution case and may not pursue every available footage source. R IVICA conducts independent scene assessments to identify camera locations not previously checked and approaches businesses and property owners to obtain footage before it is overwritten.
In most cases RIVICA can commence a factual investigation within 24 to 48 hours. Given the time – sensitive nature of footage retrieval and witness availability, the sooner an investigation begins the better. Contact the team directly for urgent matters.
Yes, and this is one of RIVICA’s core service areas. The team works directly with instructing solicitors and barristers, taking direction on the defence strategy and conducting field investigations to find the supporting evidence. RIVICA’s law enforcement background provides a unique understanding of how prosecution cases are built and where the gaps appear.
Yes. RIVICA’s investigation reports and evidence are documented to meet Australian evidentiary standards and are admissible in criminal, civil, and family court proceedings.
Pricing depends on the complexity of the matter, geographic scope, and the number of inquiry lines to be pursued. RIVICA provides clear, transparent pricing after understanding your specific circumstances. For law firms, the team can work within brief and budget parameters.
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