How to become a Private Detective

It seems lately that there is a sudden increase in people wanting to become private detectives, also known as private investigators. Perhaps it has something to do with the media hype recently, either way, here are some pointers on how to go about it the right way. After all, if you are entering the industry, better to go about it the right way than the wrong way!

Sherlock Holmes in a 1904 illustration by Sidney Paget

Whenever you read articles these days about private investigators and private detectives there always seems to be an instinctive desire to direct the readers attention to our famous Mr Holmes, Mr Sherlock Holmes, the eloquent fictitious British detective who's creation was the responsibility of the Scottish Author and Physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes was a London-based "consulting detective" whose abilities bordered on the utterly fantastic, Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning and his ability to adopt virtually any disguise on the fly. He is known also for his use of forensic science skills to solve difficult and often complex criminal cases.
But this article doesn't aim to enlighten you on the biography of a fictitious character, nor is it the authors intent to bore you with stories about past detectives and case studies, it does intend to educate and direct the reader on how to go about becoming a full time professional private detective. How to establish oneself in a competitively growing market place, an industry, which is becoming swamped with wannabe detectives and investigators thinking that they too can be, for some, like their fictitious role model, our Mr Sherlock Holmes.

Establishing a reputable private detective business takes time, dedication and commitment 

Where do you start on How To Become A Private Detective?

First and foremost you have to decide why you believe you'd make a good private detective, you can't simply say, "because it seems like an exciting job" or "why not!". You need to understand what is involved in the practices of being a private detective or a private investigator. There is also the consideration that many practicing investigators specialise in one or two areas, such as tracing missing persons, or carrying out background reports, some will specialise in fraud investigations or corporate investigations, making them a master eventually in their chosen topic area and not a "jack of all trades, master of none" candidate.
In an industry were the majority of clientele happen to be practicing law firms and solicitors, there is a need to ensure that your level of professionalism as very high, at best it needs to be on par with the likes of your clients. Without dedicating considerable effort towards your level of professionalism you could easily find yourself plugging your way through some very stick brown stuff.
If you believe you've considered the options and that becoming a private detective is still a serious consideration as your future career then you will want to follow this guide. It's not easy, as you will be starting from scratch, but if you follow the procedure to the word, you will have success and a business in which to be proud of.

GET QUALIFIED

There is no legal requirement (yet! - (as of May 2014)) to become a Private Detective in England and Wales (UK), however, there is also no legal requirement for a car mechanic to become a mechanic, so in theory, the guy repairing your vehicle may not have a clue what he is doing! You assume that because he has a workshop he is qualified to repair cars? The principle of it all can be confusing but what I mean is this; if you have a recognised qualification people will have more faith in you that you will be able to complete the task you are being asked to carry out, more so than if you had no proof of any qualification or certification whatsoever, after all, it's why we all went to school, college and/or university.

There is a lot, or there has been a lot of developments and discussions regarding the licensing of professional private investigators in the UK, partly owing to the recent media hype relating to the Leveson Enquiry

It is proposed in September / October this year (2014) that licensing for Private Investigators in the UK will come into force and is supposedly being managed by the SIA (Security Industry Authority). Personally, this is a good and bad move by the government. Bad because they are appointing consultants that know little about the industry but do know a lot about the negative reporting of late. Good because it would, if done correctly, eradicate some of the rogue investigators within our industry, what I mean by "rogue" are those that don't operate or abide by a code of conduct, an industry standard set of rules, they either break the law or act in an entirely unprofessional manner, which, gives companies like Seagal Investigations a bad name. Seagal Investigations are a reputable and professional company that have spent many years developing their client base and creating a portfolio of satisfied clients based on their ability to  provide exceptional service at a competitive price.
The most recommended training provider in order to obtain a Professional certificate that would award you with a BTEC Level 3 Certificate for the Advanced Diploma in Private Investigation from Edexcel would be The API (Academy of Professional Investigation) They provide excellent tuition and support as well as structured modules that are easy to digest and cover all the fundamental aspects of being a private detective in the UK.
Even though some people, in particular, ex police officers, intelligence officers or ex army personnel believe they don't need the training, think again. I can assure you you do. The whole aspect of working in the private sector is far far different to that of working in the public sector.

 FREELANCE OR RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

 

There is a simple and easy answer to this often repeatedly asked question within the Private Investigation industry. Let me explain. If you are fortunate enough to have an endless supply of capital then go for it, set up a business, seek professional help and support to run the business and go about it that way, if you are fortunate to have that kind of money i would invest it into another industry to be honest, I hear the sex industry is still doing very well!

From experience, the best way to enter the industry is to start small. Assuming you have, or are aiming to obtain a qualification to be a private detective then why not earn whilst you learn. Start off doing small jobs, like process serving for local legal clients, there is an additional excellent guide on Process Serving available from The ABI website (Association of British Investigators)
Being freelance allows you to keep costs to a bare minimum, you'll only need a mobile phone, a laptop and a printer as well as a car or other mode of transport to get around on such as a motorbike. Having said that if you live in a heavily built up area such as London, then you'd be more likely to use public transport as it can be quicker.
Use a basic wordpress program, if you don't have one you can get one from the likes of Open Office.  
Create a logo/letter head, which can be anything as simple as "YOUR SURNAME INVESTIGATORS" typed out in a fancy font.
Place your address at the base of the letter head. A few words of wisdom.... When I established my business, I was advised to obtain a PO Box or mailing address and have the mail forwarded to me.

1. PO Boxes cost a fortune for what they are. After all, there isn't any space being used, you're just paying for the privilige of having your mail sent to a PO Box Address and then forwarded to you.
2. PO Boxes can have delays in your mail getting to you, so substantial in fact that often you will receive important court papers to serve on a respondent and those papers may be delayed in getting to you, thus, you miss the deadline, you lose business, the client loses a shed load of money and... well, you get the drift.
3. PO Boxes are not as secure as you may think. Anyone can request the registered ownership of a PO Box number, so consider this fact if you think you are immune to ever being detected or having your address revealed
4. PO Boxes are only really needed if you feel there is a desperate need to protect your home and family from potential reprisals.
5. In all the years I have been a Private Investigator I have never had anyone turn up at my house uninvited!

I cant and wont say it's not worth getting a PO Box or alternative business address, its entirely your choice based on your deciding factors as to how great your need is.
When being a freelance investigator you get to choose what jobs you want to do, or can do. There will be several times whereby you'll ask yourself if you have the ability to do a certain job, often its the case of being honest and going with it, putting your best effort into it and sometimes you may surprise yourself.

Start by searching the job boards, there are many on Yahoo but you will need to be registered with the ICO/DPA (Information Commissioners Office / Data Protection Act) to gain access. It costs around £35 and you need to ensure you request Private Investigation listing so that it covers you for the correct data

SETTING UP YOUR OWN PRIVATE INVESTIGATION AGENCY

 

Setting up your own private investigation agency can be a daunting task for even some of the most business like minded individuals amongst us. Its never easy setting up a business of any kind but setting up a Private investigation agency doesn't need to be taxing at all. Start small, a laptop, phone, printer, vehicle and some stationary. You'll need some basic surveillance equipment, such as a good zoom lens camera with HD video functionality ideally. Your first jobs will undoubtedly be provided either from another private investigation agency or a firm of solicitors and usually will entail the service of court papers, such as a divorce petition, or a statutory demand. It's certainly not going to make you rich but it pays the bills and in our industry we refer to it as "bread and butter" money, it'll keep you ticking over, it'll keep the wolf from the door and bigger things come to those who wait.... erhhh, no, bigger things come to those who get off their lazy backsides and go and look for it!
The key to success is:

1. Create a brand
   Coca Cola, Asda, Tesco's, Canon, Ford, they all have a brand, their logos are prominent and easy to disginguish, they are recognizable. Make a logo that is easily recognizable and identifies who you are.
2. Start local then grow
   Many companies neglect the fact they have an abundance of clients right on their doorstep - Don't overlook the fact that there could be some real potential money spinners just around the corner, do your research!
3. Be professional!
   Being in business is easy, keeping yourself in business is an art. A nice touch is to invest a little time and money designing your stationary and website. It pays in the end as first impressions last
4. Flute and Whistle
   When meeting a client, show them you are able to adapt to their perceptive needs, dress accordingly with a suit and tie. Show them you are professional and that you can make an effort.
5. Keep 3rd party marketing costs minimum
   Instead, go out there and meet your clients, don't harass them, just be politely persistent until you get an appointment. Offer them something bespoke and unique. DO NOT go in and undercut the competitor, instead think of something the client could benefit from that isn't being offered by the competitor, then talk prices.

By following these simple guides you can could be up and running in days, weeks or months depending on how much effort you put into it, there will be a follow up article on this subject shortly so stay in touch and don't go far. Best of luck.

Seagal Investigations Ltd
www.seagalinvestigations.co.uk
Professional Private Investigators and Intelligence Services
T: 0844 686 9795
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