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IPCO Annual Report 2018
are consistent in their thinking and approach. This comprehensive response has given us
a high level of confidence in the organisation’s compliance with the letter and the spirit
of the CoP.
Directed Surveillance
11.25
Directed surveillance covers a range of covert techniques which are commonly used in
combination with other tactics. Directed surveillance is used by law enforcement agencies
across the range of operations they conduct. Figure 2 shows that there has been an
increase in the authorisation of directed surveillance tactics from 2018, reflecting the vital
role of surveillance for police across the country.
Example: use of directed surveillance in relation to the investigation of crime within a
residential premises with consent from the owner
An elderly person had been the victim of theft of a large amount of money from their home by
a ‘bogus caller’. It was suspected that the offender may call again at the address, so a covert
camera was installed. When the offender did attend the property again, officers recognised the
images and arrested him.
11.26
Our inspection of surveillance documentation at one LEA demonstrated a clear and
robust authorisation process where all surveillance operations were carefully planned and
authorised at the appropriate level. We have commented on an over-reliance on formulaic
text, as with CHIS authorisations, but have seen a general improvement and expect this
to continue. We have also recommended that surveillance applications ensure that each
requested tactic is justified operationally to ensure that all actions authorised are necessary
and proportionate.
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
4,492
5,627
1,000
0
2017
2018
Figure 2: Law enforcement directed surveillance authorisations 2017 and 2018