SOME OF OUR GRADUATES AND WHAT THEY SAY

John Edwards receiving his BTEC Certificate

John Edwards receiving his BTEC Certificate form Stuart Withers MD of the Academy of Professional Investigation having successfully completed the BTEC Advanced Private Investigation Level 3 Diploma Qualification. John said "I decided to do the this course to give me a better understanding of what students have to achieve, I already have an NVQ Level 4 Investigation but this was a completely different kettle of fish, the NVQ took me a number of months to achieve, whereas I completed this course and was ready to sit the final exam after only 5 days. The two are totally different, with the NVQ I was demonstrating to an assessor my vocational ability, with the BTEC it was pure supported learning with a written exam at the end". Stuart Withers went on to say that the BTEC Advanced Private Investigation Level 3 Diploma Qualification was an excellent course for newcomers into the profession. However both Stuart and John are of the opinion that any experienced investigator could sit the final written exam without recourse to any long term study.

Maria Cooper receiving her
Edexcel BTEC Advanced
Private Investigation Level 3 Diploma

Maria Cooper receiving her Edexcel BTEC Advanced Private Investigation Level 3 Diploma with Distinction from John Hope of the Academy of Professional Investigation. Maria was formally a Police Officer for many years and having retired has now established her own agency - Warwickshire Investigation Agency.

Maria has an extensive history in professional investigation. She joined Thames Valley Police (TVP) in 1982, serving just under 20 years prior to her retirement in 2002. During the vast proportion of her service, Maria was a specialist officer; becoming an expert in the use of firearms and providing personal protection for the Royal Family and visiting VIP's to the police area. She still holds the highest grades gained by any female officer in both advanced and evasive driving techniques.

In her later service, Maria extended her skills to include covert evidence gathering and surveillance. She obtained the highest grades in surveillance and went on to become an integral part of the TVP Intelligent Support Team (IST) where her training and experience resulted in her perfecting her skills in evidence gathering, covert observations and surveillance. Photography, professional log keeping and statement writing were all undertaken on a daily basis providing professional evidence to present in court.

Maria was awarded two commendations during her service for bravery and devotion to duty. She retired from the police service in 2002 and has since gone on to obtain the Edexcel BTEC Advanced private Investigation level 3 Diploma. Maria passed all 5 categories of the Diploma with distinction.

Mr Jack O’Connor the North Herts Homes Nuisance Officer, has been awarded his National Vocational Qualification for Investigation Level 4. Jack O’Connor pictured on the left received his Certificate from John Edwards, an Assessor from the Academy of Professional Investigation. Jack who has been an employee of North Herts Homes for the last 7 years is at the front line of carrying out all the required Investigations into Anti Social Behaviour and reports of Nuisance.

Jack, an ex-police officer with many years experience, said that "It has been a worthwhile achievement actually to demonstrate that all my years as an Investigator can now be recognised in this way by receiving my Certificate". John Edwards from the Academy of Professional Investigation stated that the fact that Jack has so many years experience and a vast amount of knowledge in tackling and investigating Anti Social Behaviour has made the assessment of his abilities that much easier, this achievement also demonstrates the high standards that he maintains on behalf of North Herts Homes.

Jack went on to say that the Academy offers both NVQ Qualifications and BTEC Advanced Diploma via Distant Learning Programmes and throughout the process have been totally committed to providing the necessary guidance and advice to enable him to successfully complete this very worthwhile Qualification.

Ron Bonnelame, a serving police officer receives his NVQ in Investigation Level 4 Award from Helen Withers, the Academy's course administrator.

Ron had previously served in the Military Police from 1996 to 2005 leaving as a corporal after which he joined Nationwide Investigations Group as an Assistant Operations Manager.

Ron has since joined the civil police.

THE ACADEMY SCORES WITH MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB!

The Academy scores with Manchester United! Many companies buy the Academy Distance Learning Course for internal staff training and not just Investigator companies. We recently had an order for two courses from Manchester United, yes!- the world famous football team (for their Trade Marks Department).

"I found the course extremely beneficial and it complimented my police experience perfectly. The British methods of investigation and the training from former Scotland Yard detectives I found to be as relevant in Zambia as they would be in London or New York."

Teddy Sambake
Council Police Commandant
Head of Institute of Security Management
Lusaka, Zambia

"As an ex-police officer, I wondered what this course could do for me. I was impressed with the way the course was laid out and with how much I learnt."

Brian Goulding
Seascale
Cumbria

"Excellent, a very fine Course."

Brown Odagwe
Shell
Nigeria

"I personally went through the manuals with a fine-tooth comb and on refection feel that this API distance learning package is well considered and written, covering many of the basic elements for a beginner. In discussions with colleagues here we all agree that you have done a really good job. Your case studies were all helpful; people tend to remember anecdotal stories.

We routinely recommend this course to those who ask us about where to start training. Frankly, in our view it beats what we have seen on sale elsewhere. The really strong point in its favour is the detailed coverage of basic necessary law including the DPA.

I would just like to say well done. I commend it to any newcomer."

Dr E Bliss
Blayze Ltd, Expert Witness, Process Service & Enquiry
Wiltshire
United Kingdom

"I enjoyed the course immensely and thought it was well written and greatly informative. The course content was also well thought out and gave a most thorough examination of each subject encountered. I look upon this as money well spent indeed. Many thanks for your kind assistance throughout this process, you have been most gracious. The investigative process covered in the course is as pertinent in the USA as it is throughout the world."

Mr David Miller
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Virginia
USA

"Since completing the course I have started my own detective agency and have already secured enquiries from many clients. I have also been networking on the internet with other PI's in the UK and around the world which is keeping me more than busy.

The fact that I have achieved my API Diploma has enabled me to not only join professional associations and networking groups but has also got over the credibility gap with new clients. Without completing the distance learning course I would not have made it"

Kevin Midmore
All Counties Investigation and Surveillance

"I write to congratulate yourselves on the best home study course available to those who wish to embark on a career as a private investigator. The reason why I know this is because I have done two previous home study courses on the same subject and none has given the same in depth knowledge of the law that you have given.

Though at times quite hard the course content was well put/structured and thought out. The explanation of various topics was also very easy to understand. On that note, recently when colleagues mentioned to me that they did not have a clue about the law and 'bugging', I was able to provide information that they were very impressed with and a surprise to myself how easily the information I had read was so easily retained.

I will have no problem in recommending the course to others interested in this aspect of the security industry."

Mr Muhammad Salim Nazeer
Hornsey
London

"I found completing the Distance Learning Course to be a great asset in my employment in the world of international finance. I am of course hopeful of one day becoming a private investigator."

Joanne Clements
B.A. (Hons)(Law)
Beckenham
Kent

Shy Keenan Founder and spokesperson for Phoenix Survivors Takes Academy Distance Learning Course

Phoenix Survivors is a web based support group set up ‘for and by’ people who have experienced child sexual abuse. Founder and spokesperson, Shy Keenan, contacted the Academy office to say thank you to Stuart Withers, the founder of the Academy. She had taken the Academy distance learning course, and it had helped so much.... Read more...