With increasing complexities in private life growing materialism, fraud and cheating have become problems to reckon with. In most developed countries private services of the classical detective have been sought to help understand, create evidence for legal resolutions and even to intimidate . Stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Cristie and espionage of the more modern kinds have intrigued young minds. You desire to know about its prospects in our country. Here is a brief compilation.
Nature of Work
Private detectives offer investigative and protective services to clients. Private detectives handle cases concerning family disputes, domestic violence, industrial espionage, fraud, theft, divorce, misdemeanor technical espionage and cheating etc. The work could involve investigative tasks such as locating and tracing missing persons, investigating witnesses, locating debtors, finding out details of assets , tracing documents, collecting information, carrying out background checks on individuals, family businesses or other commercial groups. Private detectives also conduct investigation for matrimonial purposes.
They may take assignments to investigate insurance fraud; collect evidence for legal investigation; investigate the legality of property transfer, real estate dealings etc. They also determine personal threats and carry out road traffic and industrial accident investigations. They provide protective services for individuals , groups, corporate/political officials etc. Corporate investigation services may involve pre-joint venture analysis, due diligence studies, financial or credibility checks.
The growth of the Internet and the widespread use of computers have heightened security concerns leading to demand for persons trained in computer security.
The detectives job entails, trailing, photographing and video recording, questioning, collecting and following up evidence to establish the findings and then reporting. Often the work involves a team of detectives who work on industrial aspects of the case. There may be forensic experts, handwriting specialists and technical personnel in the team working for detective agencies.
Work Environment
Detectives work under varying conditions . They use high-tech electronic aids and systems such as camouflaged cameras and recording devices and other sophisticated gadgets to provide professional service. Use of speed vehicles makes the job perpetually hazardous. Long, irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays is not uncommon. Much of the work could be outdoor work. While the investigative task is intriguing, record keeping and routine checks can be tedious and boring. Tracking people during investigations requires patience , maintaining accurate and detailed notes, giving verbal or written progress reports even when there is not much headway needs an acumen for systematic presentation.
The job demands interacting with all sorts of people, ranging from slick underworld dons to roadside goondas.
Personal Characteristics
Detectives must have an investigative nature. They should have intense interest in getting to the root of problems. The skills needed are problem solving, organised work habits, self-discipline, good interpersonal communication. The detective needs to be good at written and spoken communication, report writing, researching and computational skills.
Determination, honesty, integrity and discretion are vital. As a private eye you will need to be patient, persevering, adaptable and self-motivated. You should have the ability to work on your own initiative and possess an outgoing personality. Having linguistic skills helps. A background in psychology, sociology, law, physical education, and business can be helpful.
Employment Avenues
There are almost 50,000 detective agencies in the country. A private detective can be self-employed and work alone, or may work as part of an agency. Private detective agencies have now sprung up almost in all major cities. Many detectives have ventured into the field in a small way by helping friends, or neighbours and carried on from there, allowing word-of-mouth publicity to get them work. With the proliferation of various professional security service agencies, there are choices of entry at various levels. Specialist skills help in securing a position.
Earnings
In the corporate world it’s easy to demand a fee of a few lakhs for a pre-joint venture analysis ; due diligence studies ; running financial or credibility checks on a partner company.
Yet, there’s a high degree of arbitrariness that plays into the rates charged by most detective agencies – also depending upon agency goodwill – though generally, for pre-matrimonial surveillance, the market rate is Rs. 15,000; for pre-employment screening : Rs. 20,500. The going rate also depends upon whether the client demands a car surveillance ; two-wheeler surveillance ; or merely the use of a public transport . The fee depends on two factors : the scope and area of investigation, plus the man hours involved.
On completion of class room training detective work for a stipend per month. They may earn a package of over Rs.1.5 lakhs annually, with incentives, conveyance, etc.
