Guide · People checks
How to run a lawful background check on someone in the UK
Private investigators start every background check the same way: confirm they have the right person, then work outwards from official records. You can do much of this yourself, legally, from public sources.
01Have a lawful reason
Under UK GDPR you need a legitimate purpose, such as vetting a business partner or tenant. Keep only what is relevant.
- ✓Write down why you are checking
- ✓Avoid health, religion, politics and other sensitive details
02Confirm identity before anything else
Most mistakes come from mixing up two people with similar names. Match several details before you trust a record.
- ✓Full name and any previous names
- ✓Approximate age and town
- ✓Employer or company they say they run
03Check company appointments
Companies House lists every director appointment, current and past.
- ✓Companies they have run and how those ended
- ✓Any disqualification
04Check insolvency and court records
Bankruptcies and individual voluntary arrangements are public.
- ✓Individual Insolvency Register
- ✓County Court Judgments in the last six years
05Verify professional claims
Regulated professionals appear on public registers.
- ✓FCA register for financial advisers
- ✓SRA for solicitors, GMC for doctors, ICAEW for accountants
06Review the public online footprint
Look for a consistent story across public profiles, press and reviews.
- ✓Employment history that matches LinkedIn
- ✓Profile photos that appear under other names
07Know what is off limits
Investigators cannot legally obtain bank, phone, medical or criminal records by deception, and tracking someone's car without consent can be harassment.
- ✓No pretexting or fake identities
- ✓No GPS trackers
- ✓Criminal record checks go through DBS with consent
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AI Private Eye follows these same investigator checks and drafts a cited dossier with confidence ratings. Findings are AI-generated leads, so confirm the important points on the official records above.
General information, not legal advice. More guides