Whether you need to keep an eye on someone important, track a person down or acquire information about a particular individual, you might need to enlist the help of a private investigator.

A highly trained individual in the art of investigation, surveillance, documentation and evidence collection amongst other things, these professionals tend to sport a variety of skills, whereas some may be specialised in a particular area. For instance, some operatives may be experts at locating natural parents when it comes to adoption cases or may be skilful at custody disputes. As a result, they have a vast clientele that may consist of insurance agencies, law firms, corporations and quite naturally, private individuals.

What are the services offered by private investigators in Malta? 

As mentioned earlier on, private investigators offer their services to both individual and corporate clients and a quick glance on Yellow will reveal a number of professionals available for you to choose from. Making use of the most effective investigative tactics backed up by professional research and surveillance, it is important that the private investigator you select does not break the law and that they are licensed by the Commissioner of Police. Below we have outlined some of the most common services offered.

Private investigation - generally speaking, this type of service is closely linked to cases of relationship and marriage infidelity and as such, it often involves spousal investigation and surveillance. However, the service may also involve engaging private investigators to solve cases of abduction and DNA if you're worried that your child may not be yours or they may also help you locate missing individuals such as a spouse that has abandoned you without prior warning.

Domestic investigations - probably among the most popular services offered, domestic investigation is crucial when it comes to instances of spousal betrayal where you're interested to come out on top in divorce or custody court. Investigators can also guide you during the divorce process by collecting statements and important assets.

Security services - Whether you're looking to employ private security guards for your residence, door supervisors or security receptionists for your commercial premises, private investigators are not only qualified to handle these type of jobs but they are also licensed by the local police to do these type of jobs. Having an event? Ensure that everything goes well with the help of event security personnel or alternatively, you may request security guard consultancy.

Close protection services/VIP protection - closely linked to the service above, close protection services consist of employing bodyguards and security drivers, as well as entire teams of security personnel to watch over one or more individuals, similarly to what celebrities use. These individuals are trained specifically to be able to assess threats and risks and to carry out any physical protective duties. At the same time, private investigator services will ensure that no heavy-handed approach is used, while personnel will refrain from attracting any unnecessary attention.

Mobile patrols - this service typically consists of specially trained and uniformed personnel who conduct mobile patrol services in specialised and discrete vehicles. During these patrols, intelligence is collected, while this service may also act as a deterrent against theft, damages to private property or instances of vandalism. Patrols may also take place without the need of a vehicle, in instances whereby for instance a client has requested personnel to patrol and guard their property.

Surveillance - this service consists of discreetly following and videotaping or audio-recording a person or a place in order to systematically collect and analyse data that could be used to solve a case. In fact, surveillance can prove to be particularly beneficial when it comes to criminal cases whereby evidence is imperative to solve them.

Commercial investigators - you might have thought that private investigators are employed by individuals for their private affairs, however, in essence, they can help you solve a number of issues. These may include but are not limited to financial investigations such as instances of misconduct, bribery and corruption, assessments of financial transactions or accounting irregularities, while they can undertake insurance fraud investigations.

Finding lost property - lost car? Is your beloved pet missing? A number of individuals prefer engaging a private investigator to help them locate their personal effects such as tracking of vehicles, yet they can also take care of tracing your assets. Utilising tools and resources coupled with their skills, there is nothing that operatives cannot locate.

How does the service work?

Private investigators operate with maximum confidentiality and discretion which means that they will not ask any unnecessary questions if they won't help with the investigation. All you need to do once you go through the list of investigators on Yellow is get in touch with your preferred one to set up a first meeting during which you'll have the opportunity to discuss and explain the issue at hand for as long as you need to. Whereas some investigators will charge you for this initial meeting, others may offer this consultation for free.

Make sure you do the appropriate research beforehand and that you visit the investigator armed with all the necessary and right questions. It's important that you bring as much relevant information as possible such as documents and photographs if available, while you should also be prepared to answer any questions the investigator may have.

In addition, some companies may also offer alternative duties amongst which include night inspection patrols, car park control, hotel security, reception duties and customer care, as well as CCTV monitoring. Others may also sell spy equipment and other apparel.