A FORMER paratrooper has set up his own company to help tackle the problem of staff stealing from their employers.

Damian Ozenbrook has launched Blue Square Global Ltd to investigate workers who are suspected of pinching, passing on trade secrets to competitors or carrying out fraud.

According to the independent research group the Centre for Retail Research, the UK is one of the worst countries in Europe for stealing by employees, with the thieves costing employers about £1.5billion a year.

Mr Ozenbrook, from Accrington, set up the company earlier this year after serving in the parachute regiment for five years and gaining valuable experience in covert investigations and operations.

The 28-year-old, saw active service in Afghanistan and Macedonia.

He said: "I was in one of the first phases of British troops into Afghanistan.

"I served in Afghanistan for about six months carrying out a lot of covert and overt operations.

"It was very dangerous and very hostile but operationally I got a lot of experience out there which I want to bring into the business."

Blue Square Global, which also investigates employees claiming to be long-term sick, has already carried out several investigations across the country.

These include a company director in Blackburn suspected of breaking his contract by working for a rival company and a manager at a firm in the Ribble Valley believed to have stolen £20,000.

Mr Ozenbrook said he could not reveal the companies because of client confidentiality.

He employs a number of operatives from specialist military, police or security service backgrounds, depending on the assignment, to carry out undercover operations to track suspects.

He added: "There is a lot of sensitive information in companies and this is happening every day. I think a lot of companies feel exempt from it and it is never going to happen to them. We work closely with the police because some of what happens is criminal.

"All the companies have legal teams and we work with them to always insure we stay within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act and Human Rights law."

Craig Morgan, chairman of the East Lancashire branch of the Federation of Small Businesses and founder of Clitheroe-based web firm Serious Internet Ltd said he had attended networking events with Mr Ozenbrook.

He added: "From a security point of view theft by employees is often a problem particularly in larger organisations.

"I think this type of business is something that we will start seeing more of."