Norwich faces quiz over detectives

NORWICH Union directors are to be challenged at their annual meeting today to explain why they are refusing to launch an inquiry into harassment and intimidation of staff.

In January a High Court judge strongly criticised a detective agency employed by Norwich Union to investigate fraud in the company's salvaged motor vehicles department.

The judge also referred to the fact that, on the recommendation of the agency, Magnum International, Norwich paid pounds 60,000 to a man with a criminal record as part of the investigation.

James Julian, husband of Janice Julian, one of the employees intimidated, said he planned to ask the board why Norwich had not recovered the pounds 60,000 and why they paid the money when they knew the recipient had a conviction for perjury.

Mrs Julian and another employee have refused to cash compensation cheques totalling pounds 3,000 until Norwich takes the matter further.

Albert Mills, general manager, wrote to Mr Julian that it was 'entirely reasonable' to employ the agency 'and although we regret the methods which they used (and in court dissociated ourselves from the manner in which certain elements of their activities were conducted) we have no legal responsibility for what they did.'