SURVEILLANCE IS A METHOD OF CONFIRMING OR DENYING A SUSPICION.
Surveillance is also used as part of integrity testing, verification of a claim or as part of an investigation to locate a third party.
Within law enforcement surveillance is often static in that entry into a private premises is made using a special form of warrant, and surveillance equipment is installed. For vehicle surveillance a large amount of resources can be made available, to law enforcement. This means the methods used can include boxing a vehicle with surveillance vehicles in front, behind and in streets parallel to a target vehicle. Vehicles may be prepositioned to record footage when the destination is able to be predicted. For the police an undercover or surveillance team may consist of a minnimum of 5 personnel. For physical surveillance of a sensitive subject on the move the may utilise up to 9 vehicles/teams.
Other tracking methods, not available to the general public, are also utilised.
Some criminals are also adept at surveillance and counter intelligence, installing camera's on street lights and power poles to warn of the approach of law enforcement personnel or any suspicious activity in their area.
The private investigator must operate within the privacy laws if the evidence obtained is to be acceptable to a court. Quite often there are financial restrictions placed by the client, which mean for the most part the operative is working alone, or as part of a team of two, at most. He/she will have a controller to whom they will answer, and from whom they will obtain very occassional support.
Following vehicles becomes a highly skilled exercise in remaining close enough to see but not be seen. There are risks, and sometimes an operative may elect to pull back rather then be 'burnt' by the subject.
It is a situation, sometimes, akin to that of the sniper in that the operative must remain alert and prepared for long periods to obtain that few seconds of footage that will provide the answers for the clients.
Surveillance can also be likened to painting. Over time a picture is built up.
Some area's, though, provide extra challenges. These are area's such as airports, where the subject will arrive at an approximate time, the target must be identified by the operative (often they look NOTHING like the photograph and the operative relies on other information). The operative must then be ready to follow the subject away. This often requires at least a two up surveillance team.
We have staff who excell at this facet of investigation.
Within surveillance we do work for major companies, the
private self insured, private groups. We also provide services for the
private individual including relationship matters, family disputes,
business disputes, tailing children and working in with others on
security issues.
To achieve this we utilize a number of pieces of
equipment and techniques. We do ask that our clients not discuss any
equipment or methods they may observe, to preserve our effectiveness.
__________________________________________________________________________ FOR OUR CORPORATE CLIENTS PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO A REQUEST FOR SERVICE FORM.