Most Requested Private Investigation Services Over Christmas

From Suspicion to Evidence: Holiday‑Period Private Investigation Services Explained

The festive lull is misleading. While many offices shut down and people relax, the period between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest times of the year for private investigation work. Employers, families and businesses use the quieter days to resolve issues that have been building all year. Long‑standing suspicions, workplace concerns and family questions often come to a head when there is finally time — and privacy — to deal with them.

At Titan Private Investigation Ltd, we see a consistent spike in instructions every year between Boxing Day and the first working week of January. Below, we outline the eight services that typically surge over the holidays, what they involve, indicative costs and practical tips to get the best results if you are considering an investigation at this time of year.

Why Investigations Increase Over the Festive Period

Several factors drive demand at Christmas and New Year. While each case is different, some recurring themes explain why the phone rings more frequently during the festive season:

• Business slowdown creates investigative windows
  With fewer meetings, reduced production and lighter email traffic, it becomes much easier for organisations to run discreet checks without disrupting day‑to‑day operations. Security audits, fraud inquiries and covert surveillance can all be conducted with less risk of alerting staff or third parties.
• Family gatherings bring simmering issues to the surface
  Christmas is one of the few times of the year when extended families tend to be in the same place. Discussions about wills, probate, inheritance and historic grievances often resurface. Where there are doubts over the validity of a will, the authenticity of a signature or the true wishes of a deceased relative, professional evidence can be crucial.
• Festive cover can encourage misconduct
  Some employees and contractors view the festive period as a time when “no one is really watching”. This can manifest as fraudulent sick leave, misuse of company vehicles or the inappropriate handling of confidential information. Reduced supervision and skeleton staffing can unintentionally create opportunities for wrongdoing.
• People seek closure before the new year
  The turning of the year is a natural psychological milestone. Many individuals use the Christmas break to address unresolved personal matters — from tracing an estranged family member to getting clarity on a partner’s behaviour. Rather than carry uncertainty into January, people want answers so they can make informed decisions for the year ahead.
• Logistical advantages
  With diaries less crowded and fewer competing obligations, it is often easier to schedule polygraph tests, meetings with investigators, or visits to carry out bug sweeps or penetration testing. Traffic patterns also change, which can assist surveillance planning and GPS tracking deployments.

Against this backdrop, eight particular services stand out as the most in‑demand between Christmas and New Year.

1. Absenteeism / Surveillance

Suspected sick leave abuse is the number one request at this time of year. Employers are understandably protective of staffing levels over the festive period, and fraudulent absence at such a critical time can have a disproportionate impact on operations and morale.

What it involves
Covert surveillance is deployed to confirm whether a person is where they claim to be and whether their activities are consistent with the reason given for their absence. For example, someone signed off with a back injury but seen lifting heavy items at a retail job or attending sporting events.

• Typical deployment: Two surveillance operatives recording and monitoring movements.
• Cost: £60 per operative per hour plus VAT, with a minimum of five hours (typical minimum job cost in the region of £600 plus VAT).
• Deliverables: Time‑stamped video footage, still images and a comprehensive written report. These are compiled to a standard suitable for use in internal disciplinary processes, employment tribunals or court proceedings.

Why it spikes at Christmas
December sickness absence is often higher than at other times of the year, and the temptation to extend holidays or take unpaid days off “under the radar” can increase. Employers may already have concerns about an individual’s attendance, and a December incident is sometimes the tipping point that prompts formal investigation.

Practical tip:
Be as specific as possible about:

• the dates and times that concern you
• any patterns of behaviour (for example, “always off on Fridays” or “every time a key match is on”)
• locations the subject is likely to visit

Detailed instructions allow the surveillance team to plan routes, likely vantage points and shift patterns, ensuring that the deployment is focused and cost‑effective.

2. Process Serving

Serving legal documents in person — divorce petitions, statutory demands, winding‑up notices and other court papers — is a common immediate requirement in the run‑up to, and just after, Christmas. Many parties prefer to have papers served before the new year, either to progress a matter quickly or to align with court timetables.

What it involves

• Service offering: Up to three attendance attempts to effect personal service of the documents.
• Cost: £150 plus VAT for standard process serving within the local area.
• Reporting: A sworn statement or certificate of service is provided, confirming when and how service was carried out, which can be lodged with the court.

Why it spikes at Christmas
Relationship breakdowns frequently come to a head over the festive period, and parties may choose to initiate divorce or separation proceedings once Christmas Day is over. Similarly, creditors keen to protect their position before year‑end may push forward with statutory demands or winding‑up petitions.

Practical tip:
Provide all known addresses, including:

• home, work and any regular alternative addresses
• likely daily routines (for example, gym visits, school runs, known social venues)

This significantly increases the chances of successful service on the first attempt, which can be critical where court deadlines are tight.

3. Person Trace

People use the holidays to reconnect, or they discover they need to locate someone for legal or personal reasons. Tracing is one of the busiest areas of work for investigators over Christmas and into January.

Typical use cases

• Locating an estranged parent, sibling or adult child in time for a New Year reconciliation.
• Tracing a beneficiary or executor in relation to a will.
• Identifying the current address of a debtor or former tenant.
• Finding a potential witness in ongoing legal proceedings.

Key details

• Turnaround: Usually completed within 24 hours of instruction.
• Fee structure: No trace, no fee. The typical cost is £300 plus VAT, which is refunded if the person cannot be located.
• Information required:
  • Full name and date of birth, or at least an approximate age
  • Any last known address
  • Previous telephone numbers, email addresses or employers if available

While additional information is helpful, a professional tracing service can often locate individuals even with minimal initial data, by drawing on licenced databases, open source intelligence (OSINT) and specialist investigative techniques.

Practical tip:
Do not delay providing whatever information you do have, even if it seems incomplete. Investigators can frequently cross‑reference limited data points to build a current address profile, but unnecessary delay can make traces more difficult if the subject is transient or actively avoiding contact.

4. Lie Detector Testing (Polygraph Examinations)

Lie detector testing is often requested in matrimonial and relationship cases where one party wants clarity or closure on a specific allegation — for example, suspected infidelity, hidden gambling or financial dishonesty. The results, while not typically used as standalone evidence in court, can be powerful in resolving personal disputes and guiding future decisions.

What it involves

• Duration: Around 30 minutes for the actual test session, with additional time beforehand to review and agree the questions.
• Cost: £400 plus VAT.
• Process:
  1. Questions are drafted in advance, focusing on clear, closed‑ended issues (“Did you…?” rather than “Why did you…?”).
  2. A qualified examiner conducts the test using professional polygraph equipment.
  3. Immediate verbal results are usually provided, followed by a written report if requested.

Why it spikes at Christmas
Unusual behaviour, last‑minute changes of plan or unexplained absences over the festive season can intensify existing suspicions. In addition, estranged couples sometimes agree to undergo testing as a condition of reconciliation or mediation in the new year.

Practical tip:
Tests are best arranged at least a day in advance. This allows sufficient time to refine the questions, ensure the subject understands what is being asked, and schedule a suitable location. Same‑day bookings may not be available on the busiest dates between Christmas and New Year, so early contact improves your chances of securing a slot.

5. Bug Sweeps (Technical Counter‑Surveillance)

When sensitive information may have been exposed — for instance, after contractors have been working in an office, or following a contentious separation in the home — a professional electronic “bug sweep” can provide valuable peace of mind.

What it involves

• Starting price: From £1,000 plus VAT, depending on the size of the property, the number of rooms and the complexity of the environment.
• Scope:
  • Detection of audio bugs, covert cameras, GSM/4G/5G devices and other electronic surveillance tools.
  • Physical inspection of high‑risk areas, combined with specialist scanning equipment.

Rather than attempting to scan every square foot of a building, a focused approach delivers better value and more reliable results.

Why it spikes at Christmas
Board meetings, strategy discussions and sensitive negotiations are often scheduled for early January. Businesses may therefore choose the quiet festive period to ensure that boardrooms, executive offices and meeting spaces are secure. On the domestic side, where there has been a breakdown in trust, individuals sometimes fear that a former partner has left listening devices behind or installed covert cameras.

Practical tip:
If you suspect targeted eavesdropping, prioritise:

• rooms where key decisions are made
• home offices
• areas where confidential conversations routinely take place

Low‑risk spaces such as general open‑plan office floors or hallways can usually be deprioritised unless there are specific reasons to suspect a device.

6. Graphology / Signature Verification

Probate disputes frequently arise after the holidays, when families finally sit down and read through wills and associated documents. Where there is any doubt about whether a signature is genuine, a forensic handwriting and signature comparison can be invaluable.

What it involves

• Typical cost: £450 plus VAT for a formal expert opinion.
• Turnaround: Reports are generally delivered within seven days of instruction and payment.
• Evidence required:
  • A scanned copy of the questioned signature (for example, on the disputed will).
  • As many known genuine signatures as possible from the purported signatory. Ideally, up to 12 samples, but six to eight from passports, driving licences, historic documents, bank cards and other records can often be sufficient.

The forensic examiner will assess multiple characteristics of the handwriting, including pressure, slant, letter formation, spacing and rhythm, to provide an opinion on whether the questioned signature is consistent with the known specimens.

Why it spikes at Christmas
The Christmas break is often when executors distribute copies of wills or when family conversations reveal the existence of a new or unexpected testamentary document. Any suspicion that a vulnerable relative was pressured into changing their will, or that a will has been tampered with, can quickly escalate into a legal dispute if not addressed with proper evidence.

Practical tip:
High‑quality scans are generally acceptable for an initial assessment; you do not usually need to send the original will at the outset. However, originals may be required later if the matter proceeds to court, so they should be preserved in a secure location.

7. GPS Vehicle Tracking

GPS vehicle tracking is a discreet method of building a picture of where a vehicle goes, how long it stays at specific locations and which routes are most frequently used. It does not identify who is driving, but it delivers highly useful location intelligence.

What it involves

• Cost: £400 plus VAT per week (seven days of tracking).
• Capabilities:
  • Real‑time or near real‑time location data.
  • Journey logs showing times, routes and stops.
  • Geofencing alerts where appropriate, indicating when a vehicle enters or leaves predefined areas.

Limitations
Tracking data shows where a vehicle was, not who was behind the wheel. It is excellent for identifying patterns of movement but must usually be combined with other evidence (such as surveillance) if you need to prove that a specific person was driving at a specific time.

Why it spikes at Christmas
Company vehicles are sometimes used for unauthorised purposes over the holidays, including private work, extended personal trips or visits to competitors. In domestic settings, partners may query why a vehicle is routinely parked overnight at an unfamiliar address or making repeated long journeys with no clear explanation.

Practical tip:
Consider combining GPS tracking with physical surveillance if you need court‑admissible evidence of the driver’s identity. For example, tracking might show that the vehicle attends a certain address most evenings, while surveillance footage can confirm who exits and enters the vehicle.

8. Physical Penetration Testing (Red‑Team Exercises)

Physical penetration testing, also known as red‑team testing, exposes weaknesses in security protocols by attempting to gain unauthorised access to premises, systems or restricted areas. This is particularly effective when a business is operating at reduced capacity over the holidays.

What it involves

• Approach: Specially trained operatives attempt to breach physical security barriers, social‑engineer their way past staff or exploit procedural gaps. This may include tailgating, impersonation, accessing unattended workstations or testing door and access control weaknesses.
• Deliverables:
  • A full post‑operation report, including:
    • entry points used
    • the methods that succeeded or failed
    • time spent inside restricted areas
    • any data or items that could theoretically have been removed
  • Supporting footage or images to evidence the findings.
• Outcome: Clear, practical recommendations to strengthen security measures, staff training and incident response procedures.

Why it spikes at Christmas
Lower staffing levels, predictable skeleton rotas and reliance on temporary staff can all create vulnerabilities that are less apparent at busier times of year. Many organisations schedule penetration tests for the festive period precisely because the conditions mirror those at other predictable low‑staff points (such as bank holiday weekends), when attackers may choose to strike.

Practical tip:
Agree clear rules of engagement in advance, covering:

• which buildings, departments or systems are in scope
• hours during which testing may take place
• any “do not touch” assets
• emergency escalation procedures

This ensures the exercise remains safe, controlled and tightly focused on the areas you most want evaluated.

Practical Advice if You Need an Investigation Over the Holidays

If you are considering instructing a private investigator between Christmas and New Year, a little preparation will greatly improve the speed, efficiency and usefulness of the work undertaken.

1. Be Clear About the Outcome You Want

Investigative options will differ depending on your primary objective. For example:

• Do you want internal management information, simply to understand what is happening?
• Do you need evidence robust enough for court or tribunal?
• Are you seeking closure for personal peace of mind, with no intention of taking formal action?

Making this clear at the outset allows your investigator to recommend the most appropriate combination of services and avoid unnecessary expenditure.

2. Gather Supporting Material in Advance

Before making contact, pull together any relevant details, such as:

• Full names, dates of birth and, where relevant, National Insurance numbers.
• Last known addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.
• Vehicle registration details and any known regular routes.
• Copies or scans of documents (wills, contracts, medical certificates, HR records).
• A concise chronology of key events or incidents, with dates and times where possible.

Having this information to hand can dramatically shorten the time between initial enquiry and deployment, which is particularly valuable during a short, busy holiday window.

3. Understand Intelligence Versus Evidence

Not all information carries the same weight. It helps to distinguish between:

• Intelligence:
  Material that informs your understanding and guides decisions but may not, on its own, be suitable as formal legal evidence. GPS tracking data and preliminary background research often fall into this category.
• Evidence:
  Material gathered and preserved in a way that meets legal and procedural standards, suitable for presentation in court, tribunal or disciplinary hearings. Properly logged surveillance footage, signed witness statements and expert reports are examples.

An experienced investigation firm will advise on how to move from intelligence‑gathering to evidential work if and when that becomes necessary.

4. Plan Early Where Possible

Even though the festive period can be busy, early planning makes a significant difference:

• You are more likely to secure your preferred dates and times for surveillance, testing or visits.
• There is greater flexibility to adjust strategy if circumstances change.
• You avoid rush premiums that may apply to last‑minute or out‑of‑hours deployments.

Contacting an investigator as soon as you suspect an issue — rather than waiting for January — can reduce both cost and stress.

A Quiet Window to Resolve Difficult Issues

The festive slowdown is, paradoxically, the perfect window to resolve issues that need attention but not attention from the wider world. Streets are busy, offices are quiet, and people are distracted — conditions that can be ideal for discreet, professional investigative work.

Whether you are:

• an employer concerned about absenteeism or misuse of company assets
• a family grappling with probate questions or the authenticity of a will
• a business seeking to tighten physical, technical or procedural security
• or an individual looking for clarity in a personal relationship

understanding which services are commonly requested at this time of year helps you make informed decisions quickly.

Titan Private Investigation Ltd is experienced in handling sensitive matters over the festive period with discretion, legality and professional care. If you believe an issue should not be carried into the new year unresolved, specialist support is available.

Wishing you a safe, orderly and well‑informed start to the new year.

About Titan Private Investigation Ltd

Titan Private Investigation Ltd is a leading provider of corporate and private investigation services in the UK. Based in Derby, the company serves clients nationwide, offering a full range of investigative solutions including surveillance, fraud investigation, digital forensics, and more. We are a private investigation agency with a reputation for professionalism, discretion, and delivering results. Titan is the trusted partner of choice for businesses seeking to protect their interests and ensure compliance.

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