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Picture the scene…
Hiding under a hedge in full camouflage gear in the garden of a notorious British criminal, you’re secretly filming countless crimes being committed around the property, as sinister associates pull up in blacked-out Range Rovers carrying suspect packages.
At any moment, you might be discovered by a heavily-muscled henchman and subjected to a terrifying interrogation before being fitted for a pair of concrete boots, ferried out to sea in a speedboat and dumped unceremoniously in the murky depths.
But, putting thoughts of becoming fish food aside, you’re determined to continue the stakeout and courageously collect the vital evidence that will see another dangerous crook banged to rights.
This isn’t the opening scene of the latest Jason Statham thriller — it’s one of many interesting activities you might perform as a private investigator (PI).
If you’re interested in ditching the shirt and tie to become a super-sleuth, here are a few tips on opening a detective agency in the UK.
Skills
You don’t have to have a previous career in law enforcement to become a British PI, but the investigative and procedural skills picked up in the police lend themselves well to this role.
However, if you have eagle-eyed observational skills, excellent spoken and written communication, the resilience to stomach unsavory assignments and the emotional intelligence to deal sensitively with victims of crime, your skillset is suitable.
Your daily activities might include finding missing people, fraud investigation, employee background checks, and surveillance. And you best be prepared for irregular hours — this isn’t a 9 to 5 job.
Reading this guide to becoming a PI from the National Careers Service should help you decide whether it’s the vocation for you.
Regulation
The UK government has been promising to introduce new legislation to regulate the private investigation industry for several years — but surprisingly, this hasn’t been implemented and the sector is unregulated at the moment.
So you should be very wary of any company offering to train you to become a PI and avoid signing up for any courses until you’ve verified that they’re genuine.
Registering with the Association of British Investigators is worthwhile — clients know that anyone accredited by this well-established organization can be trusted. And they also run short professional courses in everything from data protection legislation to photographic image enhancement techniques.
Business
When you start any enterprise, it’s crucial to be au fait with modern marketing, finance and leadership disciplines — a formal qualification will stand you in good stead.
So studying online with Anglia Ruskin Distance Learning allows you to earn a business qualification like an MBA from the comfort of your own home, fitting studies around work and family commitments.
And you can implement the skills you’re learning straight away in your startup — there’s no need to wait until graduation.
Follow these first steps to opening a detective agency in the UK and you’ll soon put your snooping skills to the test.
Do you work as a PI? Share your career tips in the comments section.
