Understandably, discretion is a primary concern of every client we meet – be they private individuals or corporate organisations.
The nature of private investigation work means operations are always some combination of: confidential, personal, professional, legal, and sensitive.
For this reason, it follows that – for us as private investigators – being discreet is essential to the operations themselves, and the consequent reassurances we can give to our clients.
Many potential clients have a worry around the private investigations industry as a whole – perhaps based on old stereotypes of private detectives, an old stereotype we work hard to entirely defy. And this worry makes them ask: how discreet are private investigators?
The short answer is: private investigators should be extremely discreet.
The longer answer might advise you to undertake some investigation of your own – in the form of asking questions and researching to ensure you’re working with a detective or detective agency that is absolutely clear in its understanding of discretion’s importance, and treats it with the value it warrants.
Private Investigators: Why Discretion Matters
There are many reasons that being discreet is so vital to private investigation work, including:
- Covert nature of operations
Many investigation services such as covert surveillance and GPS vehicle tracking require discretion by their very nature. On-the-ground investigative operations must be undertaken efficiently and covertly in order to succeed.
- Handling of sensitive information
Whether it’s desktop intelligence or preparing reports on the findings of background investigations, private investigators are habitually handling sensitive information. It’s important this is done with care and discretion in order to honour privacy and GDPR. - Legal consequences of findings
Often our work is part of building cases or building towards legal consequences and tangible outcomes for our clients. It’s important due process – including discretion – is maintained throughout to ensure findings remain legally admissible. - Indicative of serious, professional approach
Operation-specific points aside, it could be argued that a commitment to being discreet is strongly indicative of an investigator’s general level of professionalism and seriousness, and can be taken as reassurance of the detective or agency’s credibility.
How To Check A Private Investigator Is Discreet
There are three main ways to check a private investigator is discreet:
Have an open discussion with them.
Ask about the investigator or agency’s approach to – and policy on – discretion during your initial consultations and conversations with them. Then ask yourself: do they seem open to this line of conversation? And are the answers you receive satisfactory and reassuring? This should be yes, and yes.
Research the investigator or agency
This means considering their physical and online presence analytically, studying websites, reviews and testimonials, etc. This may also lead you to specific material designed to provide information and reassurance about the investigator or company’s discretion and professionalism. At PDL, for example, we have on our website a Statement Of Standards. We can also offer a Non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to all clients, giving additional reassurance of confidentiality.
How do they communicate?
Being discreet should be at the heart of the way they communicate and handle interactions with you. The specifics of this will depend on the investigation, how you exchange information, how you/they want to work, and so on. But some examples are: how private are electronic communications? Is encryption used? Which email providers are being used? Or on the flipside – how are in-person meetings handled? Do they feel discreet, secure, private? Observe these points.
Any Questions On Discretion?
As part of our own commitment to being discreet – at PDL we are always open to hearing from you with questions on how we work, and what we do to ensure we are always discreet.
Contact us via the form below, or directly on: +44(0)2037471865
