Tips on how to hire a private investigator

Ultimately the hiring of a private investigator will be for legal purposes, which means with good information you can carry out your legal work effectively. You private detective must be meticulous, dependable and resourceful.

There have been cases where people have been misled by poorly trained investigators so we want to try and prevent this from occurring as much as possible because it could jeopardise the success of a legal case and it damages the credibility of highly trained and experienced private detectives such as Conflict International.

Step 1

Ask colleagues or friends if they know of a reliable private detective. A referral is the best way to get to the good ones in your area. Knowing someone who has used a private detective before will help give an insight into the experience and course of action. However if the reason for hiring a private detective may involve colleagues or friends it is probably best to not mention anything.

Step 2

Search membership directories of professional associations if you can’t get a referral. Conflict International is a member of The Institute of Professional Investigators and the Association of British Investigators. Our advice is to only work with a private detective company with these memberships.

Furthermore at Conflict International, investigations are conducted and managed within the guidelines of RIPA (The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) following on from The Human Rights Act 1998. We are also registered with the Data Protection Act and The ICO.

This ensures all investigations are carried out within necessary guidelines; ensuring operations are conducted with knowledge and expertise and in accordance with appropriate protocol.

Step 3

Ask about the detective’s training and education. Legal knowledge from law school can be helpful if you’re hiring for litigation. Journalism school may have taught the detective to be persistent and creative. Business education can help when doing company due diligence.

Step 4

Take note of a private detective’s experience. Many come from a law enforcement background, which is great for legal work but may not help you with investigating a company. Others may have a military background and others may be extremely specialised in surveillance.

At Conflict International our array of experience and training gives us the ability to offer a thorough range of services. We have worked with many lawyers specialising in many areas such as divorce, corporate fraud, and due diligence from which we have learned a great deal and used to improve our ability.

Step 5

Inquire about the private detective’s area of expertise. A background screener isn’t suitable to draw up a balance sheet of your ex-husband’s assets. You’re better off with an investigator who specializes in tracking down hidden accounts and creative financial dealings.

Step 6

Ask about work the private detective contracts out like surveillance and asset searches. This will give you an idea of the type of work the investigation agency carries out, but don’t expect to hear specific details because they should not be disclosed.