Investigation Essentials
Foundational Skills for Public & Private Sector Investigations
Whether you’re new to investigative roles or transitioning into security, enforcement, or compliance work, the Investigation Essentials course provides the knowledge and structure needed to manage formal investigations with confidence and professionalism.
Covering the complete lifecycle of an investigation—from incident to evidence collection, through to interviews and formal proceedings—this course is ideal for individuals entering roles where investigative work is required but no formal experience has yet been developed.
Who Should Attend?
This course is suitable for:
- Public sector staff with new investigatory responsibilities
- Private security or enforcement personnel
- New investigators working within HR, compliance, or regulatory roles
- Professionals seeking foundational knowledge of case management
- SIA licence holders seeking broader investigation capabilities
Whether your work relates to criminal, civil, regulatory, or internal investigations, this course provides a critical starting point for competence and career development.
Course Overview
The course introduces participants to key investigative principles, terminology, and lawful processes to support an investigation from beginning to end. Delegates will learn to gather and assess information from multiple sources while ensuring it remains admissible for legal or formal review.
The content includes:
- Understanding the investigation process and responsibilities
- Gathering and managing intelligence, material, and evidence
- Maintaining continuity and integrity in collected material
- Recording and retaining evidence for court or regulatory use
- Legal and procedural considerations in handling exhibits
- Interviewing techniques and communication strategies
- The PEACE Model of ethical interviewing
- Role-specific case study walkthrough based on delegate sector
- Disclosure duties and evidence presentation
Each learner will complete structured scenarios aligned with their sector, helping to contextualise the course theory into practical outcomes.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, learners will:
- Understand the core stages and responsibilities in an investigation
- Be able to gather and secure evidence in a legally defensible way
- Develop confidence in managing intelligence and sensitive material
- Understand how to plan and conduct effective investigative interviews
- Apply ethical frameworks to questioning and material retention
- Follow retention and disclosure guidelines in line with current legislation
- Manage case material in preparation for court, tribunal, or internal hearing
- Learn to work methodically, accurately, and professionally throughout
These skills are transferable across sectors and essential for those handling disciplinary matters, security breaches, criminal inquiries, or regulatory cases.
Certification
Upon successful completion, learners will receive an Investigation Essentials Certificate, demonstrating their ability to support and manage basic investigations with a sound understanding of best practices and legal expectations.
This certification is ideal for building future capability in enforcement, security management, case coordination, or evidence handling roles.
Course Format
This is a practically-focused course delivered in a single-day or two-day format (depending on group size), including:
- Classroom-based instruction and legal framework review
- Sector-specific case study analysis and group discussion
- Simulated interview planning and feedback
- Guidance on evidence logging, continuity, and disclosure
- Optional assessment for confidence-building and internal CPD
Trainers ensure content is aligned with the learner’s field, whether policing, private security, corporate compliance, or civil enforcement.