Katy meets...Anna from A1 Investigations Bureau

By Katy O’Regan

Based in Crewe, A1 Investigations Bureau is far more than the gumshoe stereotype we see in American films. At the heart of the business is Anna, a legal graduate who, after joining the company as an office administrator, quickly found her feet and passion in the world of private investigations.

The Bureau was originally founded in 1988 by Anna’s business partner Roger. With humble beginnings in Wrexham, where it was once known as Wrexham and Clwyd investigations, it has grown into a national operation with a network of trained agents, many of whom are ex-police or ex-military, offering services to both corporate and private clients.

While private investigators can often be met with scepticism, Anna is quick to point out that everything A1 does is legal and above board. “We’re governed by bodies like the World Association of Professional Investigators and the SIA,” she explains. “We don’t hack phones or break the law. Most of our work is about surveillance, tracing, and gathering evidence.”

The scope of their work is surprisingly broad. For businesses, A1 offers corporate debugging, employee absenteeism investigations, and fraud detection. For private individuals, they are often called upon to conduct infidelity surveillance, trace missing persons, or even verify cohabitation for legal proceedings.

One area Anna is keen to grow is appeal work, where the agency is brought in to investigate cases where someone may have been wrongly convicted. “We’ve worked with solicitors and families to gather new evidence, speak to witnesses and help build a stronger case. It can be long-winded, but the outcomes can be life-changing,” she says.

A1’s agents also conduct process serving, often handling sensitive legal documents ranging from statutory demands to non-molestation orders, and they occasionally provide bodyguard services for events, high-profile individuals or situations where personal safety is at risk.

Despite the serious nature of their work, it’s the human element that keeps Anna passionate. “I love that every day is different – one day it’s surveillance, the next it’s helping someone locate a long-lost relative. We’ve even been asked to find a dog!”

Anna’s mission is to raise awareness that these services exist locally. “People often think what we do only exists in films,” she laughs. “But we’re here, we’re real, and we’re here to help.”

If you’re an ex-police or military professional looking for freelance investigation work, A1 Investigations Bureau would love to hear from you.

All information accurate as of June 2025.