Alicia woman, one of the best detectives in Spain: "People open more with a woman, here the stereotype favors us"

Alicia Lerma (1975, Madrid) is an example of this.With more than 10 years of experience as a private detective and hundreds of cases behind him, it can be said that he is one of the best in Spain: the agency indications, which he founded almost a decade ago and from which he is director, received in 2015 theGold Star Prize for Professional Excellence, from the Institute for Professional Excellence.

With signs collaborate about twenty detectives from all over Spain to solve all kinds of cases, not only of infidelities as usually thought."Right now, for example, we are doing more cases of unfair competition and children's custody.We have also had cases of abuse and abuse of minors, which are horrible issues because although you want to put a housing, those things affect you, "tells Magasin.

Another similarity with the detective stereotype that comes from the police and police books is the "flexibility" of schedules: from marathon days to be available "24/7" for customers."I remember the first service I say, I spent 10 hours in front of a portal and I said: I was wrong by profession, I had to have followed where I was, why have I studied so much to be in a 10 -hour car? The fatal pass".

And when I went to 'detective class' everything seemed very nice.He studied forensic psychology, law, ballistics...But reality is very different from the theory."This profession has to like you, if not, forget because it is very sacrificed.No one knows what it is to be waiting for someone to come out, many times without having a car or a place to sit, with sun, rain, cold...But well, I loved the race ".

Alicia studied criminological and security sciences with the title of Private Detective and the Private Security Management at the CEU San Pablo University.I had never thought about being a detective, moreover, as a child I dreamed of being veterinary.It began industrial delineation, but left it for the fifth year "with some room subjects".He did not like or intended to devote himself to it.Then he started working, but being a secretary of direction seemed "very monotonous".I needed something else to feel done.

"My father drove me to be a detective because I saw that I could fill me.He told me about the race and I was already 30 years old and said: How am I going to study now?In the end I look, I took it out in three years and very happy ".At the end he tanned working three years and then decided to set up his own business: signs.

Customers, first

Since then it has resolved all kinds of cases.Some have assumed great satisfaction, while others have been desperate."One that always comes to mind was a case of infidelity that we solved in half an hour.We wait for the person to get out of his work and how at the room of an hour or twenty minutes of monitoring he was with a girl and was already done, "he recalls with a laugh."Then there are other cases that we have been two years and we don't get results.We do not know if it is because there are no or because we are not lucky enough to find the day you do something ".

It also maintains a close connection with the police, who goes to consultations or warning of crimes."If, for example, they hire us to follow a person or to find out where a woman is, we always ask if there is any kind of background for gender violence or some restraining order because it is dangerous".

"Other times we warn of any case that we carry so that, once we get the tests to customers, they act.Once, for example, a man whom they were coercing for three years came to us.The man was about to suicide because he could no longer.We call the police directly and coordinate for them to take the investigation.Thank God, they took the person in charge and the man finally rested ".

Alicia has to know how to manage frustration when she doesn't know how to continue pulling the thread;Have empathy with customers, which "many times tell us things that have not told anyone else";and cold blood in moments of possible danger."Customers decide to resort to a detective many times by divorces or by the child's theme: maintenance, custodians, see if they are really taking care of the child...When they look helpless because they have no evidence to report or simply because they want to solve a question ".

"It is true that many times people come who tell us things that have not told anyone and we are like their point of support.They can relieve and we also do some psychologists, half a lawyers because we try to guide them on what is the best formula for them...I also try to do it as effective as possible, but also the most economical ".

As each case is different, the way of proceeding too and, despite its great career, it is inevitable to get stuck at some point from time to time.Luckily, something that is changing in the guild of private detectives is companionship."Before it was a sector in which each one went to his ball, at his pace...But now I think there is much more companionship.We have a chat of women where we consult things like: what camera would you use or what do I do with this, how can I have access to this other...".

More detective women

Precisely because of the need to have more support, Alicia created in 2018 the National Private Detective Women (ANMDP) Association (ANMDP)."I had been circling for a long time because you saw that both within the schools, associations, detective meetings there were no almost present women.It is true that we are very equal, very brave both, but I think that a woman's vision is always different from that of a man.We are different, neither better nor worse, but we can always contribute something.In all professions there is always a women's association, why not do it here? ".

According to ANMDP data, there are only about 400 active detectives in Spain, which represent 30% of the total detective.That is why the Association aims to "face research in female.Add, provide initiatives, ideas and projects ", always in a" inclusive, not exclusive "way.In short, make visible their role in the profession and fight against stereotypes surrounding detectives.

"I have found people who are surprised when they go to my office and see that I am a woman instead of a manager man.They have also confused me with the secretary.Many times it is not that they do it because they are macho, but because it is so involved in our way of living in society...The same happens for example with a truck woman.They are things that would no longer have to exist because we are really neither better nor worse, but we can do the same ".

Of course, sometimes you can even take advantage of those clichés: "That people still have that stereotype of the detective man is that sometimes it favors us because we often do research and people do not think that we are detective.They open more and have more confidence with a woman, so we can get more information, "he has a spicy smile.

Pandemic effects

Currently, its agency is one of the most prestigious in Spain, but the way, as in any business project, has not been easy.Throughout these years he has changed partners, of office on a couple of occasions, he has had long times without vacations or schedules...When asked what he does to disconnect, it takes time to respond and after a sigh he ensures that he only turns off the mobile at night."The first years had no vacation because of course, when you start a project, a society, you have to get fully and do it.I remember that maybe I was going for three days on vacation and it was to be with my mobile continuously.It is a job in which you can call you a client at any time ".

Conciliation in general is complicated for detectives.Alicia never wanted to have children, "what I've had dogs have been", but even having a partner could be uphill."You have to have a very comprehensive partner.In my case I had it and I understood that I had to get up at three o'clock, I was 12 hours away from home and then I could arrive at eight and wanted to sleep.It is that you have no schedule or fixed income, that this is also very important and very distressing because of course, every month the account is put to zero ".

In this sense, Alicia explains that pandemic "has crushed them a lot".Many of her companions have left him and even she has thought about closing."We couldn't do anything, we had the sites and the hours limited...People did not know how to do it and we had a very strong break.It was thinking: as this continues like this, we cannot get ahead...Because in addition, with all this people do not spend money on hiring detectives.But well, I think I've got here and you have to keep fighting.If we pass this bump I think there will be nothing that can stop us ".

The most important thing for her is to continue helping those who need it because "there are many cases that although they are very small, typical that they are best to harass him at work or a possible infidelity of his partner, you see that it is his problem, His world.Maybe it seems small, but for that person it is not.So, being able to help the truth is that it is a great satisfaction ".

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