Detectives in jeopardy The figure is not safeguarded by any professional register; therefore, it is impossible to control unlawful detectives, who endanger the category's image. A few days after "mythical" Tomponzi's death, his daughter Miriam explains: " There's widespread hostility towards us. The Ministry of the Interior should do something about it. The military fear that legislative recognition of our job might reduce their power and authority" She couldn't have done otherwise. "I was trained at the school of suspicion. Everything has been so natural. I couldn't have done, and I have never thought of doing any other job". Who speaks is Miriam Tomponzi, Tom's daughter, who has been working as a detective in the family firm since she was 20. Today, at the age of 45, she is the future of a tradition whose prestige is embodied in that family name. "All I am I owe to my father: he taught me everything without teaching me anything. Standing by his side since I was a child, was a great experience, both professionally and in life. I have learned that this job requires instinct, quickness and an extraordinary intelligence, almost ingenuity. And then, you must not be afraid, not even for an instant. Ten seconds of fear and you are lost. You are not supposed to fight against fear, you are supposed to dance with it. You must know how to control it and convey those emotional energies into further boosts for your courage." These qualities are as valid today as they were yesterday. The same is not true if we talk about the requirements and needs a detective agency has to deal with today. At one time, a detective was mainly asked to uncover infidelities and conduct prenuptial investigations. "Today", explains Miriam, "investigations on personal business account for a mere 18% of our work. On the other hand, the requests of help by firms unwilling to get cheated are increasing. In the western world, industrial espionage has increased by 50% over the past 5 years. Japanese manufacturers, who in the 80s diverted 36% of the sales turnover to espionage activity, today don't need to spy anymore. On the contrary, they devote huge amounts of money to the defense of their secrets, that is counterespionage. For example, we are the only agency in Italy to have launched the "Safe Contracts" service, for the safeguard of those concerns that, having to offer various kinds of jobs or being involved in marketing activities, need to have absolute certainty of the transparency and rectitude of the firm they are working with or cutting a deal with. Ultimately, they want to be sure that they are dealing with an absolutely "clean record". There was a time when the detective was considered a movie star; today, his profession is considered as normal as a lawyer's. "Under the new Penal Code, in fact" underlines Ponzi, "the defense attorney can resort to the detective's collaboration to carry out investigations, from gathering probating elements to the advantage of the client, to conferring with persons who might give information. In these occasions the detective, follows clues or suspicious elements, reconstructing personal and economic tracks, always on the move to search and reconstruct a whole story out of a detail. That's not all. We deal with all the issues police, carabinieri and customs officers cannot face for lack of time. Any examples? If one receives an anonymous letter, he takes it to the police, that cannot investigate. Another example: suppose that, in case of divorce, a husband declares a 2 million monthly income, whereas he earns 20. That is when we step in and undertake to disclose the swindle". Yes, but now everything is compounded by the privacy law that, for example, makes access to data banks impossible. "Nothing has changed to us", contends Miriam. "Wire-tapping, both in private and public spots, was outlawed back in 1974, with the 615 and 615 bis laws. Nor have we been entitled to "steal" photographic shots ever since. The penalties we used to run into were very severe, from arrest to suspension of the license. It was hardly worth the effort. On the other hand, what guarantor Stefano Rodotà established seems to me a bit excessive. Common sense is crucial in whatever field. In this case some amendments are necessary. Not least because our organization has followed Belgium's legislation, the most rigorous of all, for two and a half years. "And we never fail. We ourselves set limits we never, ever exceed. A sort of moral and practical code". But the rumor is, that not all detectives are loyal and fair. They often double-cross, they even blackmail sometimes. Miriam is positive: "Exceptional cases cannot compromise the category as a whole. All professions have their own "black sheep": doctors, lawyers, journalists, business consultants. What we lack is a professional register keeping us under control and admitting only those with suitable requirements. Without such an official organ, there are too many money-grabbers playing the detectives, always getting up to trouble. The detective movement in Italy is wider than one may suppose. There is a federation, and about 1,200-1,500 detectives own a license. Not to mention the staff: up to 100,000 among collaborators, supporters, assistants. It is impossible to know everything about everyone if there's no one attending to selection and control. We have been advocating the institution of a register for years, and my father was among those who started this campaign. But we tilt at windmills. There is too much hostility towards us, the military fear that legislative recognition of our job might reduce their power and authority. The Minister of the Interior himself should help us find a solution, to cut down on the "fakes" that our federation pursues, even without having the means to put a stop to them". According to Mrs. Ponzi the future of this profession depends very much on that: "It is time that a good law protects us. For one thing, investigation must be culture, technological and scientific know-how. It requires a strong character, excellent education and perfect knowledge of the law to run cases at best. That's why every year we provide for scholarships, following a tradition, that my father started. We want this profession to continue and to become established in full observance of legality and seriousness. Becoming a detective can be an excellent job opportunity, owing to a steady rise in cases of industrial sabotage and disloyal competition. But investigations are not only concerned with large amounts of money and big businesses. There are those who need the detective to trace a missing child or a wife involved in a prostitution ring. There are even those who turn to us without having the money to pay for the investigation. It is the category of the so-called "human cases" (Cu) for which Tomponzi Investigations avails itself of a special foundation. We follow them, as well. It is not fair to leave anyone in uncertainty and desperation. The more so when it comes to a mother or a father. Author: Paola Pellai