For The Daring Ones: Private Investigator

Where can one get training? Is training important?
Avenues for training will vary depending on the circumstances of your employment. For example, if you have a franchise with a company, you may have access to many courses as part of your franchise agreement. If you are working at an agency, you will usually receive training on the job from your employer. As a sole practitioner, you would need to organise your own training.

There are no specific training institutes. I'd suggest you join an established detective agency where you can get practical training. One can also go in for a degree in forensics because this knowledge will help in investigations. It would also help if you understand what evidence you should take to a criminologist.  

Advice to aspiring professionals?
Join this profession only if you feel you can dedicate your life to it. Don’t take it as a job. You should aim for fame, but this fame will come only if you are mad about what you do. In the 50 years that I have been in this profession, I have won many awards, and all this has happened because of the honesty I exhibit towards what I do.

What are the problems a detective can face?
I've received threats to my life many times. A good detective is one who should never let a situation get out of hand and should avoid situations where s/he can be exposed. You have to be competent enough to get out of difficult situations. A detective has to keep in mind that s/he not only has to save his/her own life but also his/her client's identity.

What about the legalities? Why is not private investigation not legal as yet?
We have made a suggestion to the Ministry of Home Affairs that they should create a regulatory body for detectives on the lines of the Bar Council or the Medical Council.

We believe that they are considering it.

I am against the licensing of detectives because it will bring them under the purview of the police department and then corruption could easily seep into the profession.