White pages sites, electoral roll sites, and other well known databases make up an important part of the deep web for those of us looking for someone, and most of us can dig up a white pages site to search. The deep web however goes much further, and can be used to great effect in your people search.

For example, if you are looking for someone you went to school with, and know they went on to University to study medicine, it makes a lot of sense to try searching an online database of medical practitioners.

The deep web often makes uses of smaller more targeted information, and allows you to narrow searches quickly. For example, you are looker for a female by the name of Jane Doe. You have tried standard searches and white pages but had no luck. You assume she may have been married and hence changed her name.. so what can you do quickly online? If you have further information such as the University attended, chosen profession or occupation, or other interests, why not delve right into the deep web and try your search. Many deep web databases have advanced searches where a first name only search is possible. As the searchable data is usually smaller and often accompanied by additional information, you can sift through the results fairly quickly and often know whether you’ve hit a match or not.

Finding deep web sites is also fairly straight forward. To start with, you’ll find many categorised deep web people search sources through our online directory. Failing that, try a standard search on a search engine using your chosen topic (i.e. doctor) and add terms such as “database” “registry” “register” etc. You’d be surprised at just how many deep web databases there are out there in the UK containing people names and information.

Keep us in mind also when you come across a new deep web source. Let us know, so that we can add it to our directory and share it with others looking for someone.

Foot Note: In the not to distant future, we may be fortunate enough to not have to visit each site to run our deep web searches. New search technologies such as PIPL are attempting to do this automatically for us. Whilst it is in Beta at present, and only available for the USA and Canada, this sort of technology may make it easier to find people in the future.

Firstly, there are 2 different versions of the electoral roll in the UK, the public version, and the restricted version. The restricted version has the details of each and every person registered to vote; the public one does not. Unless you are in law enforcement or similar, you can rule out accessing the restricted one. The public version is what you’ll find online.

Now the public version may be useful, but it has its restrictions. Anyone can opt out of the public roll, and this is an important point. As the public electoral roll is available to marketing companies and the like, there are many who are choosing to opt out. Anyone not looking to be found is almost certain to opt out.

The electoral roll is also available for viewing free at council electoral offices and also at many libraries, however certain services such as a confirmation letter may attract a fee. You will also find  historical versions available in many areas.

Why then would anyone want to search the electoral roll online? Convenience, pure and simple. If you’re in a rush, or don’t want to make the effort to visit somewhere to conduct a search, simply pay for it online get a result.

Tip: The online searches offer a free search that will return peoples names on the roll. Why not run a quick check online first of all, then if you’re a skinflint and don’t feel like paying, drop into a library or electoral office and have a look at the full details there. At least you know your trip out won’t be wasted searching for someone who isn’t even on the electoral roll.

Rather than just list the basic large scale sites you find in most articles and link directories, we delve deeper bringing you new sources and specialised ways of searching for friends, family and other people you want to locate.

To assist your cause, we’ve also added a forum / registry where you can be pro-active in your search, and also help others in the same boat. From time to time we’ll be adding articles that we hope you’ll find useful and aim to provide a better insight into the variety of ways you can find people.

Right now we’re just getting started, but there’ll be plenty more on offer as we build up the site, so be sure to bookmark us and visit again.