Become a Private Detective

What Do Private Detectives Do?

The work of a private detective is varied and investigators cover everything from tracing missing persons to offering surveillance services, investigating employee theft, and advising firms on security issues from industrial espionage to de-bugging. Additionally, some private detectives devote their energies to finding out what errant husbands and wives or even wayward children are up to, while others might work for newspapers or broadcast news producers.

Don’t be seduced, however, into thinking that it’s all Raymond Chandler-esque glamour and action. The most successful private detectives are ordinary people who keep a low profile and possess patience, common sense and tenacity.

Becoming a Private Detective

According to figures from the Association of British Investigators (ABI), 80 per cent of members are former police officers. Others have worked for law firms or were journalists; training in trades and professions that provide the contacts necessary for successful private detective work.

The security industry, of which private detectives are a part, is worth £3bn a year and is growing fast. Academic qualifications aren’t necessary to get a start in the business, but some training is useful. The ABI website has a list of courses that range from an introduction to detective work, to courses on surveillance methods, tracing elusive debtors, and how to give evidence in court.

Some people start by working in the administration side of a large detective agency, and then set up on their own. If you are self-employed, hourly rates outside London are in the range of £40 to £50, plus expenses.

While anyone can call themselves a private detective, investigators now have to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority, a Government body designed to regulate the private security industry. Additionally, if you want to focus on a specialist area, you may be required to get appropriately qualified, for instance by becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner or even a fully-trained accountant.

Benefits of Private Detective Work

Private detective work can be fascinating, and yes, even exciting. For many, the best thing about this line of work is the satisfaction that comes with getting to the bottom of a tricky case or uncovering instances of industrial espionage or fraud. Other benefits including being able to use your brain on a day-to-day basis and meeting new people.

Additionally, private detective work can also be financially rewarding, particularly if you are self-employed and thereby also able to enjoy being your own boss and picking and choosing your own cases.

One other upside to this type of work is the opportunities available to women. Women can make some of the most successful private investigators, as they often arouse less suspicion than men. It’s easier for women to hang around outside schools or in parks, for example, and people are less intimidated when women call at their door asking questions.

Potential Drawbacks of Private Detective Work

While working as a private detective might sound glamorous, you might often have to spend long hours sitting in the back of a van, or filling in paper work, so don’t expect it to be all action.

However, private detective work can be dangerous, and personal safety must be taken seriously. Many private investigators keep a low profile and don’t advertise their line of work too widely. Additionally, even if there are no risks to your personal safety, private detective work may also require working long, anti-social hours.

Further Reading

• For further reading see the UK Net Guide article Self Employment: The Essential Things to Do.
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