How can you help get your investigative or security request off to a good start? Help your partner succeed by gathering all the information you already have, whether you think it is important or not. Chances are, you know more than you realize.
On several occasions, clients have asked us to investigate something or to prepare an executive protection detail, only to tell us later that they have information on family members, prior addresses, past employment, etc. Providing this information at the start of the engagement would have focused our efforts, saving time and money.
Background Checks, Due Diligence and Asset Searches
When requesting background checks, due diligence or asset searches, keep the following in mind when communicating with your investigative partner.
- Purpose. Why are you conducting the background check? Your partner needs to confirm the investigation is for a permissible purpose, such as employment screening, litigation support, due diligence of potential business partners or acquisition targets, etc. Simply put, is the request legal for a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) to take on?
- Goal. What information are you trying to uncover? Having a clear goal will help your partner to define the investigation plan.
- Locations. What geographic locations are involved? The geographic footprint will typically determine what type of information can be obtained.
- Consent. If conducting a background check for employment purposes, is the individual aware of this fact and willing to provide consent? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires written consent from the candidate to request information before a CRA can supply the requested information.
- Budget. What is your budget and, more importantly, do your expectations align with this figure? Individuals who have a common name and/or high profile present special investigative challenges. Discuss your budget, along with your specific goals, with your investigative partner at the start to avoid confusion and/or disappointment with the results.
- Timeline. When do you need the requested information? Sharing this target date with your investigative partner will help them focus their efforts—and give you a realistic expectation of what can be achieved in the desired time frame. Short timelines can sometimes be accommodated, but when the investigation requires collecting information from third parties, those timelines must also factor into the process.
Executive Protection/Security Details
Similar to the above examples, providing executive protection or other security details requires communication of several key points to increase the chances of a successful engagement. Sharing these details at the beginning will eliminate unnecessary follow-up, again saving time and money.
- Location(s). Where is the individual—or company—for whom you require assistance based? How many different locations will the parties be traveling to?
- Itinerary. Where will the principal(s) travel? What methods of transportation are they taking? Where will they stay? Having a complete, detailed travel schedule will help your security partner in planning, allowing for extra time and personnel as needed.
- Number of protected individuals. Is the principal traveling alone? Will his or her family join for all or part of the journey? Having multiple principals requires adjustments in the number of protective agents providing security coverage.
- Travel purpose. Is the planned trip for business or pleasure? The answer may affect different aspects of the protection detail, ranging from uniform to the types of vehicles needed.
- Controversy. Are there any known threats against the principal? If a principal has a high media profile, either negative or positive, this can significantly alter the threat level and protection strategy.
- Overall health. Does a principal have any underlying health conditions? Communicating any known health issues that may require emergency responses, including allergies, can prevent a tragedy.
The need to share all available information with your investigative partner applies to all types of investigations. While the initial time investment may seem excessive, your help in providing relevant information will help your partner to streamline time, expense and planning, contributing to the overall success of the engagement.
