Starting a Surveillance Company

[Invictus13]

Hi All,

myself and another police colleague (both with 5 years CID and covert operations experience) are in the process of starting out int the private Surveillance sphere.

As well as our police experience we have undertaken the Ronin Concepts Hostile Environment CP course and looking to top up on the Surveillance with a couple of courses.

I wanted to hear what experiences any of you had in relation to the world of private Surveillance and what the job market is like.

I hear The Surveillance Group (based in Hereford) are doing extremely well for instance but I am looking for more balanced views.

Thx for your help guys.

[mally]

Hi there.

I can't give any knowledge on civilian Surveillance as I have a military and police background also. I have heard the number of private investigators is rising no doubt increasing the need for surveillance training and surveillance companies.

Where abouts in the country do you plan to operate?

Mally

[silhouette]

Hi,

Try targeting insurance companies for personal health insurance work, they are difficult to get in with but can be very lucrative. When I say difficult, I mean very very very difficult!
Good luck though.

[Invictus13]

Hi guys,

thanks for the replies.

I plan to set up in the Greater London area which will allow me to cover Surrey as well as London.

Silhouette, if you don't mind me asking what is the main type of Surveillance work you do? How difficult is it to obtain jobs and what mistakes are to avoid when setting up a surveillance company from sratch?

Finnally, is it lucrative and worthwhile from a financial point of you?

Thx

[silhouette]

I have PMd you a reply

[catey_c]

Hi

I'm not sure if you already know this or if you plan to have a full Surveillance team? However I have heard that if you plan to employ individuals who are of non-military and non-police backgrounds, their surveillance skills will have only reached level 3 surveillance, thus no mobile surveillance will be authorised.

I have also tried to get into claims validations though it's proving real difficult at the minute!!

[nmc]

Starting your own company is easy - just inform the revenue - getting the work in can be difficult to say the least. Sub-contract work is one thing but getting your clients, especially in the claims industry is especially difficult - yet achievable.

P.M.me with any other questions that you may have.

[mickworldwide]

Try aiming at the European market , we do a lot of Due dilligence and Pre employment screening etc especially in eastern europe, I know it isnt sneaky beaky stuff but best to try several different avenues rather than to rely on Surveillence solely. With the exception of the odd suspicious wife or a crumb or two from the sub contracting insurance investigators , Surveillence work is hard enough to come by alone.
Get as many strings to your bow as possible and dont make the dreaded mistake of over stretching too early, only take work onboard that you can achieve, sounds stright forward and silly comment but a reputation is easily ruined in the first year.
At least as an ex cop you know all the pit falls regarding the Human rights legislation etc!!!

Good Luck

PM me if I can help further.

[mts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Invictus13 Hi All, myself and another police colleague (both with 5 years CID and covert operations experience) are in the process of starting out int the private Surveillance sphere. As well as our police experience we have undertaken the Ronin Concepts Hostile Environment CP course and looking to top up on the Surveillance with a couple of courses. I wanted to hear what experiences any of you had in relation to the world of private Surveillance and what the job market is like. I hear The Surveillance Group (based in Hereford) are doing extremely well for instance but I am looking for more balanced views. Thx for your help guys.

Best of luck on your new project.

WE are running a Surveillance Detection course in Israel in July.

As part of this course, surveillance is taught also.

Please see:
Israeli SD Course- July 08

And let me know if you have any questions.

Regardless of our course, if you have any questions, let me know, glad to assist.

m

[Nephilim]

Mickworldwide made some good points and thanks for that. I'm not sure what catey_c meant though. I understand the levels of Surveillance training for the Police, but catey_c seemed to imply that applies to the civillian sector as well. Is that right ? If so who on earth Polices it and how ? I know of PI's who are out there doing it daily and have been for a long time with no official levels ? Is this set down in legislation anywhere ?
thanks everyone

Nephilim