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MODERN INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGIES

NCJ Number
62039
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 27 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 20-22,24
Author(s)
R F LITTLEJOHN
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS OF SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS ARE DISCUSSED: OPERATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE, FIXED SURVEILLANCE, FOOT SURVEILLANCE, AND AUTO SURVEILLANCE.
Abstract
THE OPERATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE, TO BE ATTENDED BY ALL PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING IN A PATICULAR SURVEILLANCE, SHOULD CONSIST OF DISCUSSION AND PLANNING OF THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF THE SURVEILLANCE: (1) DESIGNATION OF THE COMMANDER OF THE SURVEILLANCE TEAM AND AN ASSISTANT; (2) THE TYPES OF SURVEILLANCE TO BE CONDUCTED AND THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED, INCLUDING VEHICLES, RADIOS, AND ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT; (3) SELECTION OF SPECIALLY TRAINED PERSONNEL TO OPERATE THE SOPHISTICATED ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; (4) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT AND A REVIEW OF THE SUBJECT'S HABITS AND HANGOUTS; AND (5) INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT RELIEVING POINTS AND ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF OPERATIONAL IMPORTANCE. FIXED SURVEILLANCE INVOLVES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCATION WHICH CAN BE USED FOR OBSERVATION AND LISTENING. COMMUNICATIONS, VIEWING DEVICES, PHOTOGRAPHY, CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION, AND ELECTRONIC EAVESDROPPING ARE THE ACTIVITIES AND EQUIPMENT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH FIXED SURVEILLANCE. FOOT SURVEILLANCE MAY CONSIST OF LOOSE SURVEILLANCE (DESIGNED TO OBTAIN ONLY A GENERAL IMPRESSION OF A SUSPECT'S LIFE OR ACTIVITIES), TIGHT SURVEILLANCE (CONTINUOUS SURVEILLANCE OF THE SUBJECT), AND ROUGH SURVEILLANCE (AN EASILY DETECTED SURVEILLANCE DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE THE SUBJECT OF DISGUISE A TIGHT SURVEILLANCE). AUTO SURVEILLANCE SHOULD USE NONDESCRIPT VEHICLES WITH TWO-WAY RADIOS MANNED BY THREE PERSONS--A DRIVER, OBSERVER, AND RECORDER OF SUBJECT'S ACTIVITIES. SURVEILLANCE IS A FLEXIBLE TOOL TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS. (RCB)