If you need to hire a private investigator to conduct investigations or research, be careful to choose a qualified and licensed professional.

In Italy, in fact, there are many unauthorized private investigators, who operate without a license and without complying with the regulations that govern this delicate activity.

Who are the unauthorized private investigators?

Abusive private investigators are people who pose as detectives, but who do not have the necessary qualifications to practice this profession.
Often they are former employees or collaborators of investigative agencies, who go independent without having the degree, internship, advanced courses, and the prefectural license required by law; sometimes they are simple amateurs, who rely on unprofessional and illegal means and methods to gather information.

What risks do unauthorized private investigators pose?

Hiring an unlicensed private investigator can pose several risks for the client.
First of all, there is the risk of receiving false, incomplete, and especially unusable information, which can compromise the outcome of future lawful investigations or even harm the client.
Moreover, there is the risk of facing criminal or civil penalties, both for the client and for the self-proclaimed investigator, in case of privacy violations, harassment, illegal wiretapping, or other offenses provided for by our legal system.
Finally, there is the risk of being scammed or blackmailed by the unlicensed investigator, who might take advantage of the situation to extort money or sensitive information from the client or sometimes, as has already happened, from the subject of the investigation.

How to recognize and choose a licensed private investigator?

To avoid falling into the trap of abusive private investigators, it is important to verify the professionalism and reliability of the detective you intend to hire.

Some useful tips are:

- Check that the investigator holds the prefectural license, which must be displayed visibly at the investigative agency's office or shown to the client upon request.
- Request a written and detailed estimate, indicating the cost, duration, methods, and objectives of the investigations, and including the protocol number of the prefectural license as per art. 134 TULPS.
- Enter into a written contract, detailing the parties' information, service conditions, payment methods, and confidentiality and dispute resolution clauses.
- Request to receive a written and documented report of the investigations, containing evidence collected legally and that can be used in judicial or extrajudicial proceedings.

Federpol is the Italian Federation of Investigation, Information, and Security Institutes and is the most representative association in Italy of licensed professionals.

You can search for members on the institutional website at the address: https://www.federpol.it/lista-soci-federpol

Among the battles of the Federation is certainly the fight against illegal practices, a sadly widespread scourge.

The President of the AIRO Institute of Private Investigations is the delegate for the Province of Brescia of Federpol.

If you have further doubts, you can contact the PASI office of the Police Headquarters located in the province where the investigator is based.

In conclusion, if you need a private investigator, do not rely on the first one you come across, but make a conscious and safe choice.

Only in this way can you obtain a quality service, in compliance with the laws and your interests.

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