Does One Need a Law Enforcement Background to Become a Private Investigator
A lot of professionals with a law enforcement background choose to become private investigators post retirement and even prove to be successful in this field. Their prior experience comes handy while working on criminal defense cases, preparing reports and handling various other tasks and thus most private detective agencies prefer having them on board. However, it is not mandatory to have a law enforcement background in order to become a private investigator or detective.
Having said that, I would also like to clarify that the duties and authorities of a private investigator are quite different from that of law enforcement personnel. Many people are of the opinion that the role of a private investigator is similar to that of
a police official and that both these professionals have the same authorities. But this is simply not true! While police officials work on criminal cases and are equipped with the power to implement criminal laws, carry a gun, make arrests, and even break the law to stop illegal / criminal activity if required to, the private investigators on the other hand are trained in handling both criminal as well as civil cases. However, they do not have the authority to make an arrest or break the law. Private Investigators cannot even carry a gun without a permit.
Law Enforcement Officers May not Make Good Private Detectives
It has been observed that former law enforcement officers usually do not have an experience of running a business on their own because for the largest part of their careers, they have worked under someone else and received a fixed salary month per month. During their journey as a law enforcement officer, they don’t have to look for clients / cases, keep a track of the finances, shop for equipments or rate their services. Thus, being a former law enforcement officer does not necessarily imply that you have it in you to start your own private detective agency.
If you intend to start your own private investigation firm you must first learn how to operate a business. Initially, it is recommended to have an alternate source of income as a consultant with other established detective agencies since relying completely on a start-up detective agency to earn your income is not a good idea.
Challenges Faced By Private Investigators
A private investigator’s profession does not allow him the privilege to work for set hours and enjoy weekends with family. It is essential for these professionals to manage their work efficiently and not allow their professional life to take a toll on their personal life.
As a private investigator, it is also likely for you to come across clients who may force you to indulge in unlawful activities. You may have to break in to a place or use other illegal means to collate information or perform activities that may prove beneficial for your case. However, a good professional must refrain from getting involved in any such activity as it may cost them their license. As a good private investigator it is your duty to convince the client that all the required information can also be gathered by fair means though it may take some time. If you lie, cheat or indulge in any other illicit act then you are not doing justice to your profession.
Sadly, many private investigators in Mumbai and other cities in India get influenced by their clients and begin to think that the only way in which they can obtain the information/evidences quickly and easily is by using unfair means. But this is not true! A good investigator will always find lawful means to acquire the required information.
A Few Tips on Interrogation
To get to the truth you must learn how to interrogate properly. It is essential to ask relevant questions from your clients, suspects, witnesses and other people related to the case. And one has to ask these questions tactfully! One must know how to put across a question in different ways. We usually have two to three back up plans to keep the momentum going.
You must keep a pen and notepad handy to jot down all the important points. Don’t forget to note the date, time and place along with the information. Once you have enough information at hand, segregate the facts from opinions. Go through the available information repeatedly and analyze it to understand the case better and also to figure out the missing links. Identify the hidden clues and chase the trail. It is perfectly fine to go by your instinct. If something does not seem right, you should investigate it further. Your instincts would develop as you gain experience in this field.
Private investigators make use of computer database searches to conduct background checks, pre employment assessment and trace missing people. The field is diverse and a private investigator needs to use various means to get to the crux of the matter. A person with an innate curiosity to find out the hidden truth and a natural desire to help people can make a good private investigator – the license of course makes it official!
Author Bio
Amit Sen is the founding partner of Alliance One – who are among the best private detectives in Mumbai specializing in providing thorough Matrimonial Background Verification Services in Mumbai among other private and corporate investigation services. Amit is also a trained pilot and an aviator and likes to remain grounded on the days when he is not flying high.
