When to hire a private investigator

Hiring a private investigator can help when you need the skills and experience of an expert. Private investigators are there to provide a range of surveillance and protection services when you cannot deal with a situation or matter yourself and need further expertise. 

There can be many reasons behind the decision to hire a private investigator, both personal and commercial. So, when should you consider taking steps to conduct a proper investigation? 

If you think your partner is having an affair

If you suspect your partner of cheating, then it may be time to get a private investigator involved. Although it is never an easy decision to hire a private investigator to investigate a relationship, it is useful to either get peace of mind or collect the evidence needed to prove infidelity or wrongdoing and as relationship investigations need to be discreet and detailed, this is often best left to the experts as this can involve surveillance solutions as well as both technical and mobile surveillance. 

A private investigator conducting this type of investigation may often fit covert devices to reveal intimate conversations and interactions. However, it is important to note that private detectives can only act within the law and any steps they take will be in line with current and relevant regulations. 

Divorce proceedings can often be stressful and contentious and as such, private investigations are sometimes needed to help ascertain the truth around assets held, cohabitation claims and financial information. In these cases, a private investigator will often have to combine the skills of surveillance and clever use of digital technology. 

Conducting Background Checks

If you are a business looking to hire a new employee or would like to verify someone is who they say they are then background checks are a useful tool. With social media ever more prevalent, history and background checks are often key sources of information for private investigators. They can access public and business records as well as private databases they have permission for.  

If you are looking to employ someone new, then it would be advisable to conduct a thorough background check of your potential employee before offering them a contract. This helps protect your business and brand from financial and reputational risk and ensures your new hire does not only match your business ethics and values but is compliant with any necessary accreditation and regulations within your industry. 

If you want to check the veracity of someone before getting into a relationship or that want the reassurance that their partner is financially secure before embarking on moving in together or marriage, background checks can help. They can protect a person from individuals with a criminal history of domestic violence, financial issues and protect you from identity theft and fraud. If you have any suspicions that someone you care about is not being entirely honest, then it may be time to contact a private investigator. 

In child custody cases

One of the more challenging reasons to decide to hire a private investigator is to investigate child custody claims. This may be because a child is under a child protection order and you believe the rules surrounding such an order are being broken, or perhaps there is mistrust over the treatment of a child by another parent. 

Private investigators can provide an impartial service and gather any evidence needed to protect the child or children involved, whilst understanding the need to be discreet whilst keeping in mind any safeguarding policies they have in place. 

Issues with Probate

When a loved one dies, the last will and testament can cause familial issues. At this point it may be useful to hire a private investigator to investigate the circumstances around the drafting and signature of a will and the location of any person that may be able to provide clarity. Any evidence can be used to help support a claim and bring costly disputes to a resolution. 

If you need to trace a missing person

You should consider hiring a private investigator if you need to find or trace an individual and have had no success. As missing person cases are initially handled by the police, there may be some frustration at the level of resources allocated, which is when individuals and families turn to private investigators for help. This type of investigation is carried out by private investigators or tracing agents with experience in location services and who can work with agencies both in the UK and abroad to trace a missing person. When doing this type of investigation, tracing agents are fully aware of the need to be discreet with their surveillance and utilise the digital tools they have at their disposal, such as database access, to help narrow down their search and identify the whereabouts of an individual. 

To help investigate fraud 

It does not matter if it is a personal or corporate issue, fraud should never be tolerated, so if you suspect dishonesty or something illegal may be going on either at home or in the workplace, you may want to look at hiring a private investigator. If you are a business looking to hire a private investigator to review an employee or employees, then choose one that has experience with corporate fraud. They will be trained to spot irregularities and may often come from a corporate background themselves. 

Using surveillance, the latest in digital technologies, private investigators can put together the portfolio of evidence you need to act.

If you need close protection services or suspicions of stalking

You should consider hiring a private detective if you believe you may be being followed or have had threats against your person. This can be incredibly scary, and we would always advise getting the police involved as well as any private investigators. Most agencies offer counter surveillance services to help trace and identify a stalker, but if you believe you may be at risk from harm, then close protection would be advisable. 

Close protective services are the hiring of a bodyguard or team, either covertly or as a visual deterrent, to help protect the safety of an individual or family. These are often private investigators, usually with a military or police background that are trained to physically protect a client from harm. Some of the reasons you may need close protection are:

  • Child protection 
  • Protection in hostile environments 
  • Protection against direct or indirect threats 
  • Protection in cases of stalking  
  • Corporate protection of assets 

Process Serving 

If you are a business, government body or a member of the legal profession, there may be occasions when you require an efficient and reliable individual for process serving and litigation support. This may be for court injunctions, bankruptcy, or divorce for example. If you want to hire someone to serve court documents, then private investigators are often trained and insured for this purpose. 

Private Investigations with OpSec Solutions 

If you are looking to hire a private investigator, you should always make sure the person or agency you are hiring are both reputable and trained in the area of investigation you need.  If you are looking for a specific type of private investigator, you want to be sure that they have the knowledge, the skills and the experience required to do the job efficiently and often discreetly.  

Our expert security and intelligence team at OpSec solutions is at the heart of what we offer. Every member of the team has a professional background with invaluable experience, whether that’s military, policing, government, or the corporate sector.

When you hire a private investigator, regardless as to the why, you want the reassurance that they can offer a fast response when required. Knowledge of the local area is also critical to the services they provide. Both can be achieved by finding a private investigator that is based locally near you. 

Unlike many other private investigation companies, OpSec Solutions ticks both these boxes, with private investigator services across the UK. We have headquarters in London and Manchester, with local private investigators across the nation. Wherever you are based, we will provide a local service with a fast response and no compromise on the results. 

To give you the best possible outcome for your investigation, our team takes time to assess every case in detail. We understand that every case has its own requirements and complexities – whether it is a long-term static project, or dynamic mobile surveillance that needs operatives in various locations. After an in-depth consultation, we will outline a clear methodology, tailored to the type of private investigation you require.  

We understand that the trust factor is invaluable when it comes to choosing a private investigator, especially in personal matters and if there are legal issues and evidence involved. As evidence can only be used if it has been obtained legally, it is vitally important for you to put your trust in a private detective or private investigation firm that can get you the results in a legal and ethical manner, whilst conducting themselves and their operation with the highest of standards to produce quality, effective results. This is best practice throughout private, personal, corporate, or commercial investigations. At OpSec Solutions, we complete all work legally, confidentially and in full compliance with GDPR. We have accreditation and membership from some of the industry’s leading bodies, such as the ABI and UKIN so you have peace of mind that any private investigative services are carried out ethically, legally and with full confidentiality.  

It doesn’t matter who you are, OpSec Solutions works with solicitors, loss adjusters and insurance companies, small businesses and individuals, and even large enterprises who can subcontract their surveillance and investigative needs to our capable team.  

Want to know more about the private investigator services we provide, our state-of-the-art technology, and how we could help you? We’re just a phone call away. Get in touch with our friendly team on 0844-664-1125 to arrange a free consultation.

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