How to Become a Private Investigator

Private investigators are individuals who provide professional investigative services to private citizens, organisations or groups. They have no ties to law enforcement and their job is primarily concerned with collecting of information that can be used as evidence. Private investigators cannot enforce the law and therefore can't take action such as arresting an individual.

In the UK, private investigators are not yet licensed by the government. Therefore, there are people operating PI businesses without licenses or the necessary qualifications. However, licensing is expected in the near future and this will standardise the process of becoming a private detective. Currently, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is issuing licenses to individuals who wish to work as professional private investigators.

How To Become A Private Investigator: Investigative Training

To become a private investigator that is licensed by the SIA, you will need an IQ level 3 award in Private Investigation. There are various institutions within the UK that offer the training needed to attain this qualification.

These courses are designed for individuals who have no previous background in private investigation or law enforcement. Subjects taught include:

Investigation methodology
Basis surveillance
Interviewing
How to write reports
Legal issues etc.

Although individuals with prior law enforcement experience don't need to undertake the same training, they'll still need to be tested before receiving SIA licenses. In many of the courses offered, individuals can study on a part-time or full-time basis depending on how much time they can devote. Therefore, the course can take anywhere from several weeks to several months.

Once you've undertaken the studies, there are regional exam centres where you can take the exam for professional investigators. Once you've become a private investigator, you can still undergo further training in other fields to improve your skillset. Contact us to find out where you can receive training if carrying out private investigation.

Additional Qualifications To Become A Private Detective

In the UK, the only academic qualifications required to become SIA licensed is the IQ Level 3 Certificate for Private Investigators. However, attaining additional qualifications in relevant fields can improve the skills of a private detective. This can enable them to take on a wider range or more complex private investigations.

Such qualifications include:

Degree in criminal justice
Degree in paralegal studies
Security risk management
Information systems security training
Business management degree
Degree in accounting etc.

Qualifications in criminal justice are important in the field of private investigation since much of the work involves gathering of information to be used in criminal trials. For those interested in private investigations dealing with fraud investigations, qualifications in financial fields such as accounting will be useful.

Institutions concerned with private investigator training may also offer advanced classes so you can become a private detective with added capabilities. With extra qualifications, the private investigator will be able to investigate more cases and also make use of more advanced tools such as spy equipment in their investigations.

The Role Of Private Investigators

The role of private investigators will be mainly defined by the skills they possess and the industry they work in. Typical British investigators work in a detective agency and offer services normally conducted by police officers and detectives on a private basis.

These include:

Surveillance of persons or locations of interest
Gathering and compiling evidence e.g. taking photographs
Interviewing witnesses
Locating missing individuals
Performing background checks on individuals, companies or organisations
Issuing lie detector tests
PC email monitoring
Phone text forensics etc.

Although the police carry out similar tasks, people use private investigators because the case may not meet the criteria warranting a police investigation or the police may not have the resources to carry out a thorough investigation. Private investigators with special skills are the ones who can offer services such as computer forensics, counter surveillance, forensic accounting, insurance claims investigations etc.

Requirements For A Private Investigator License

Once you've attained the IQ Level 3 Award for Professional Investigators you'll need to make an application to the Security Industry Authority to become a private detective. Apart from proof of having attained the necessary qualification, you must also meet the following criteria to get a license:

You must provide proof of identity
You must be at least 18 years old
Right to work in the UK
Mentally fit in the five years preceding the application

Having a criminal record will be taken into account but will not result in an automatic disqualification. The SIA will make the decision depending on the nature of the offence, the sentence given and how recently the offences were committed. You can also contact us to know more about how to become a private detective when you have a criminal record.

Employment Opportunities For Private Investigators

With an SIA license, you can become a private investigator that works for different types of companies or firms.

If you're lacking in experience, you can apply to a detective agency where you can work as a private detective under more experienced individuals to gain on-the-job experience. Once you have enough experience, you can even open your own agency. Alternatively, some investigators are hired by companies and firms to make use of their expertise within.

Firms that hire in-house investigators include:

Law firms
Insurance companies
Accounting firms
Human resource companies
Financial companies etc.

Do You Have What It Takes To Become A Private Investigator?

Holding an investigators license isn't all that is required to do the job. A PI can offer a wide range of private investigator services and these will call for a certain array of private investigator skills.

To become a private investigator who can work on cases effectively, you'll need:

Good communication skills
Sound judgement
Analytical skills
Self-confidence
IT skills
Empathy

Individuals who have worked for a law enforcement agency or the military will find many of the skills acquired in these professions to be useful in private investigative work. If you have any questions on how to become a private investigator, you can also contact us for more information.

Private Investigator

How Do You Become A Private Investigator

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom, commonly Britain or the UK but officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland is an independent country. The United Kingdom includes smaller islands in the British Isles, the north-eastern part of Ireland and Great Britain. The United Kingdom is the 78th-largest ss in the world, with an area of 242,500 square kilometres. Although the kingdom of Great Britains official name from 1707 to 1800 was "Great Britain", the term "United Kingdom" has been used for it. The term "Britain" is used as a synonym for the United Kingdom and as a synonym for Great Britain.
UK Private Investigator

Commonly used to refer to matters relating to the United Kingdom is the adjective "British". Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom. Approximately 243,610 square kilometres is the area of the United Kingdom. Throughout the 20th century, coupled with economic decline after world wars, as other nations industrialised, the United Kingdom heavy industry declined and began to lose its competitive advantage. By 1961 this number, just over 0.7% of the United Kingdom population, had more than quadrupled to 384,000. In 2006 the United Kingdom was the largest puplisher of books in the world and in 2005, 206,000 books were published.
UK Private Detective

There are some sports in which the United Kingdom is represented by the Great Britain team, including the Olympics, where a single team represents the UK. The UK PC on Geographical Names stating that it has been used "informally", does not list "Britain", it lists "U.K. or UK" and "United Kingdom" as terms for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A member of the Commonwealth of Nations amongst others is the United Kingdom. Sometimes referred to as the 'Scottish School of Common Sense' the United Kingdom is famous for 'Scottish Philosophy', and the 'British Empiricism'.
Investigating the UK

With plentiful rainfall all year round, the United Kingdom has a temperate climate. In October 2009, a new SC of the United Kingdom came. Her Majesty's Armed Forces - The forces of the United Kingdom consist of three professional service branches. With over 27 million arriving in 2004, Tourism is important to the British economy; London has the most international visitors of any city in the world and the United Kingdom is ranked as the sixth major destination in the world.
Searching For UK Sights

The total population of the United Kingdom in the 2011 census was 63,181,775. In the United Kingdom, forms of Christianity have dominated religious life for over 1400 years. In Ireland, then part of the United Kingdom, the Great Famine resulted in a million people migrating to Great Britain. With each county having a separate education system, education is a devolved matter in the United Kingdom.
Detectives in the UK

Together with holistic, alternative and complementary treatments, each country in the United Kingdom has its system of publicly funded and private healthcare and healthcare is a devolved matter. Sir Edward Elgar, RV Williams, William Byrd, Gustav Holst, Henry Purcell and Arthur Sullivan (most famous for working with the playwright Sit W.S. Gilbert) are notable composers of classical music from the United Kingdom and the countries that preceeded it. In the United Kingdom, a 2003 poll found that football is the most popular.

I wasn’t quite sure that I was ready to share my personal information with anyone. However, Private Investigator UK made everything seem easy. They were very cooperative, made me feel comfortable working with them and eventually helped me a lot. I would highly recommend the team of private detectives to everyone who is reluctant to cooperate with detective agencies.

Kevin Wright

I had an eerie feeling that someone was following me so I decided to contact Private Investigators. The entire team was extremely helpful throughout the entire investigation and they made me feel very comfortable and calm around them. I would always be grateful for their help!

Elizabeth Archer