A Realistic Approach to Surveillance

A nice little surveillance coming over the next few weeks. Not something I specialize in but what can I say… I know people!

I do not take on much in the way of surveillance taskings. This is mainly because it is not an area the firm actively markets. As a result the vast majority of potential clients are first time users of this service.

People often have an unrealistic idea of what is involved in an effective surveillance operation, the costs involved and what exactly they want to do with the resulting stills, video and reports.

The reason for me taking this job on was simply down to the client being reasonable, realistic and having a well thought out strategy as to what he hopes to achieve.

It’s always great when a client starts a conversation by outlining their problem “I want him, her, them or it followed how much?” In common with all professional service providers our time is money but by investing a little time in the beginning life can be made oh so much simpler later on.

We will ALWAYS take the time to go through and consult on a client’s requirement in depth when approached to do so.

So why was this client different?

Well he had three people against whom he had carefully collated heavy but circumstantial evidence of wrong doing.

• He had unbiased biographies of the subject’s, their common movements and patterns, pictures ready for the purposes of ID and a list of carefully thought out questions.

• He had already established a couple of time frame periods through where it was most likely that the three subjects could be witnessed committing their wrong doing.

• He had a definite plan regarding how the resulting evidence would be used to support his case and how it would be presented to the, for want of a better word, prosecution.

• Instead of stating a budget or telling how he wanted the job completed he asked for suggestions.

• He took the time to consider the various options offered and came back with a number of minor alterations and suggestions of his own that certainly assisted in our being able to complete the job.

• He accepted that just because he heavily suspected that the subjects would commit their wrong doing during the time frames discussed it was also possible that they would do nothing wrong and that the surveillance may have to be extended.

Obviously in common domestic infidelity surveillance the client is after proof of their partner’s infidelity. Video of a lingering kiss, holding hands, soulful gazes at each other over the candlelit restaurant table while violinists play softly beside them, you know that kind of thing.

Even in such “simple” cases it is common for the client to respond “I don’t know” when asked what they wish to do with the evidence. Strangely people do not always want a divorce despite evidence of infidelity. Some think they might.

Years ago one “gentleman” actually advised me once that he would “kill her.” (That one was reported to the authorities as he gave every indication of meaning it and having planned the method)

Basically, there is little point in spending the money unless you know what you want to do with the evidence.

And the cost can be high. How much would you charge to sit in a field in the rain for eight hours? Actually very few people outside of the military do that people need regular relief.

Consider the case where you have to spot and tail three suspects arriving a port that need to be picked out of over a hundred others. The three people may head in three different directions using public transport a lift from a friend and a bicycle. Each person needs to be followed to their destination and have their movements supervised for three days. People need breaks, surveillance is stressful, its often a case that you need three people per subject followed who need relieving periodically. Each is paid by the hour.

So, if you have a need make a plan, call our office, have a chat and we can probably assist.