Surveillance Detection & Counter-Surveillance Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of surveillance detection in a CP operation?

Answer: To identify persons conducting surveillance on the principal before they can plan an attack

Surveillance detection aims to identify when someone is watching the principal, gathering intelligence for a potential attack, enabling the CP team to take protective action early.

What does 'SDR' stand for in a surveillance detection context?

Answer: Surveillance Detection Route

An SDR (Surveillance Detection Route) is a route specifically designed to expose surveillance by allowing the CP team to observe if anyone is following or monitoring the principal.

What is 'trigger' in surveillance detection terminology?

Answer: A person or position that initiates surveillance of the principal at a specific point

A trigger is a surveillance team member stationed at a fixed point who initiates coverage when the principal moves, signalling other surveillance team members to begin following.

What is 'counter-surveillance' (CS) and how does it differ from surveillance detection?

Answer: CS involves the CP team actively watching for and disrupting surveillance; detection identifies that surveillance is occurring whereas CS takes active steps to counter it

Surveillance detection identifies that the principal is being watched; counter-surveillance goes further by taking active steps — route changes, challenging observers, alerting police — to disrupt the surveillance.

What are 'indicators of surveillance' that a CPO should look for?

Answer: The same person appearing in multiple locations, eye contact avoidance, camera use near the principal and unusual loitering

Surveillance indicators include repeated sightings of the same person in different locations, use of cameras towards the principal, avoidance of eye contact and behaviour inconsistent with the environment.

Why should a CPO vary the principal's routes and timings even when not under surveillance?

Answer: To prevent attackers from building an accurate pattern of life through advance surveillance

Routine predictability allows an attacker to plan around the principal's movements; regularly varying routes and times makes accurate prediction — and therefore attack planning — much harder.