When people think of a private investigator, they often picture an individual hiding in their car with a pair of binoculars, looking to find evidence of a marital affair.
However, while this may be one example of private investigators’ work in the 1980s, investigators in this era are more covert, and the profession as a whole now applies to a greater range of scenarios that extend far beyond domestic disputes.
From unearthing crucial documentation for a high-profile legal case to confirming a business owner’s concern about employee misconduct, company theft, or fraud, private investigators’ work can take many forms and be used by individuals and entities in various sectors.
This article tells you everything you need to know about private investigators, including what they do, how they do it, and when they’re needed.
What is a private investigator?
A private investigator, also known as a private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or entities for investigatory law services. They work independently from police or other law enforcement, gathering evidence to confirm or disprove an allegation or provide evidence for an investigation.
This may help to prove a private civil issue, a criminal issue, as well as, employee dishonesty in the form of financial fraud, theft or misconduct. This evidence can help build cases that will be used in a criminal or civil court or employment discipline process.
It’s important to note that private investigators are not law enforcement officers. They cannot arrest people or carry weapons, and they must follow the law throughout their investigations.
This means that they can’t trespass or enter private property, breach privacy laws, impersonate law enforcement, or use force or make arrests against an individual.
What do private investigators actually do?
Private investigators work to uncover and gather evidence for a wide range of scenarios, including cases of infidelity, background checks on individuals or businesses, insurance claims verification, missing person searches, and international frauds, scams and asset trace.
They use discreet methods to uncover this evidence, such as examining public financial records, conducting surveillance, or even investigating online activity and interviewing potential witnesses with the intent of securing statements to support their client’s case.
They gather and present information and evidence clearly and concisely to their clients. This evidence can be used in court cases, for disciplinary actions, to make informed business decisions or simply for personal peace of mind.
Private investigators are crucial to helping individuals or entities gather information to prove wrongdoing. This is especially true in civil cases, where rulings often hinge on evidence that’s not readily accessible.
Businesses, for instance, often employ a private investigator to help uncover misconduct, company theft or fraud, or general dishonest behaviour that could cause the company financial or reputational loss. This allows them to gather evidence of wrongdoing before taking legal action or involving law enforcement.
How do private investigators work?
1. Understanding the client brief
Any private investigation begins with a client approaching a private investigator with a specific concern, such as suspecting infidelity, needing a background check, needing help finding a missing person, discovering who is behind a scam or fraud, or for any other legally justified purpose. The private investigator then builds an understanding of the desired outcome of the situation and ensures the case falls within legal and ethical boundaries.
At SIP, we pride ourselves on providing personalised attention and support to all our business and private clients during this process. We treat every client equally, demonstrating our commitment to delivering the best advice and a professional approach tailored to each case’s specific circumstances.
2. Gathering evidence
Once the details of a case have been established, private investigators begin gathering evidence using discreet methods. They prioritize their methods based on their likelihood of uncovering the most relevant information quickly. They also establish a realistic timeline for the investigation, considering factors like the case’s complexity and potential hurdles.
Some of the most common methods for gathering evidence include:
- Public Record Searches. Private investigators are adept at navigating databases to find information on people, businesses, assets, or legal matters. This could include anything from criminal records and property ownership to financial filings and business licenses.
- Surveillance. Discreet surveillance involves following a person or monitoring a location to gather intel on their activities. This can be done with physical observation or with the help of technical surveillance devices like covert cameras and GPS trackers, etc, that are used within legal boundaries.
- Interviews. Talking to witnesses, acquaintances, or anyone with relevant information is crucial for piecing together the puzzle. Private investigators are skilled interviewers, able to ask the right questions to get people to share what they know and, when appropriate, secure written statements from them.
- Undercover Operations. In specific situations and with careful consideration of legality, private investigators might assume a false identity to infiltrate an organised gang or workplace or other situation to gather evidence that may not otherwise be secured.
- Open-source intelligence. Private investigators can scour social media profiles, websites, and other online traces to uncover hidden details about people or businesses. They can also use advanced techniques to track online activity and identify potential connections or evidence that can be compliantly captured.
- Document Examination. Sometimes, the key to a case lies in physical documents. Private investigators can be meticulous in examining documents for inconsistencies, forgeries, or hidden clues that would assist them in following other avenues of investigation.
- Data Analysis. Technology plays a significant role in modern investigations. Private investigators can utilise data analysis tools to extract patterns and insights from large datasets, potentially uncovering hidden connections or suspicious activity.
Throughout the evidence-gathering process, private investigators operate within a strict legal and ethical framework, ensuring all chosen methods comply with the law and avoid violating anyone’s privacy rights. The evidence they gather must be obtained legally to be admissible in court. Otherwise, not only will the evidence be rejected, but the investigator is also at risk of being prosecuted.
Therefore, this requires a high degree of planning and execution to ensure it stays within legal bounds. Highly experienced investigators specialised in cross-jurisdictional legal frameworks, such as SIP International, are recommended for their consistent success in complex investigations.
We remain current with the latest integration technologies and utilise a compliant, unique, bespoke server cyber-intelligence investigative software platform that extracts data and documents from the surface and deep web. Our specialist team can also infiltrate dark web chat rooms when necessary to obtain sought-after evidence.
3. Reporting the findings
Once evidence collection is complete, private investigators examine all the information gathered, whether it be witness statements, surveillance footage, public record data
documents or any other digital information.
The investigator doesn’t just look at each piece in isolation. They meticulously search for patterns, inconsistencies, and connections between different pieces of evidence. This helps them build a comprehensive picture of the situation.
Based on the analysis, the investigator draws well-supported conclusions about the case, avoiding speculation and focusing on what the evidence objectively reveals. They document these conclusions in a report for the client, which typically includes:
- An Overview of the Case: A summary of the investigation’s purpose and scope.
- Methodology: A description of the methods used to gather evidence (e.g., surveillance, interviews, public record searches).
- Findings: A detailed presentation of the evidence collected, including photos, videos, and witness statements (while maintaining confidentiality where necessary).
- Analysis: The investigator’s interpretation of the evidence and the conclusions drawn from it.
- Recommendations: Depending on the case, the investigator may offer recommendations based on their findings for the client to consider. If the client is not legally represented, the investigator may suggest they seek legal advice based on the evidence that has been uncovered.
Who needs private investigators?
Many people, whether members of the public, celebrities, VIPs, financial institutions, or businesses of all sizes, can benefit from the discreet services of a private investigator.
Here are some common scenarios where someone might need private investigation services:
- Individuals suspecting infidelity: A spouse harbouring doubts can turn to a PI to gather evidence of a partner’s cheating or disprove their suspicions altogether, which in many instances can prove constructive in repairing the relationship with their partner.
- Businesses seeking background checks: Before hiring a key employee or entering a major deal, companies might use PI’s to verify qualifications, financial history, or past legal issues, mitigating potential risks.
- People needing help finding missing persons: In cases of missing loved ones or individuals crucial to legal proceedings, PI’s leverage their investigative skills to locate them, expediting the process.
- Those involved in civil disputes: During disagreements between neighbours, breach-of-contract situations, or inheritance conflicts, having documented proof of wrongdoings strengthens a client’s position. PIs can provide evidence to support negotiations for a fair settlement.
- Anyone requiring discreet investigations: Private investigators offer a valuable service for uncovering hidden truths in civil or business matters. They can investigate employee theft, fraud, or misconduct within a company, ensuring internal procedures are followed while maintaining discretion.
SIP International’s expert-backed private client investigation services.
Since our establishment in 1983, SIP has amassed decades of experience in investigation and intelligence. Resulting in conducting over an estimated 50,000 investigations worldwide with an excellent success rate.
We pride ourselves on providing personalised attention and support to all our business and private clients. We treat every client with equal respect and demonstrate our commitment to delivering the best advice and a professional approach tailored to each case’s specific circumstances.
Our diverse clientele for complex investigations ranges from regular public members to high-profile celebrities, VIPS, HNW individuals, businesses of all sizes, banks, other financial institutions, and corporations
SIP has a team of specialised professional investigators, analytic researchers, computer/digital forensics experts, and forensic accountants. It has all the technical capabilities needed and an established global network of local investigators, allowing us to conduct ground inquiries worldwide when necessary.
