Surveillance Training with ISS

RIPA For Dummies

2011-09-28T03:31:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks there have been various posts on a number of investigative related forums where there have been discussions about trespass, deploying trackers, using telephoto lenses, lifting bins, putting cameras on a house etc etc.. and every time someone pipes up ‘..but isn’t that illegal under RIPA..’

In simple terms: NO IT DOESN’T!

Now then, to put it into simple terms, you can do what the hell you like in the commercial world (beg, borrow, steal, rape, murder, carry out surveillance…) and RIPA has got absolutely nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing, zero, zilch..

RIPA ONLY concerns YOU if you are employed by (or acting on behalf of) one of these public bodies listed (please read carefully now):-

Charity Commission
Criminal Cases Review Commission
Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service
A county council or district council in England, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, and any county council or county borough council in Wales
Department for Transport, for the purposes of:
o Marine Accident Investigation Branch
o Rail Accident Investigation Branch
o Air Accidents Investigation Branch
o Maritime and Coastguard Agency
A district council within the meaning of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for Northern Ireland (for the purposes of Trading Standards)
Department of Health (for the purposes of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)
Department of Trade and Industry
Environment Agency
Financial Services Authority
A fire and rescue authority
Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
Food Standards Agency
Gambling Commission
Gangmasters Licensing Authority
Government Communications Headquarters
Health and Safety Executive
HM Revenue and Customs
Home Office (for the purposes of the UK Border Agency)
Independent Police Complaints Commission
Information Commissioner
A Joint Board where it is a fire authority
Ofcom
Office of Fair Trading
The Pensions Regulator
Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
Port of Dover Police
Port of Liverpool Police
Post Office Investigation Branch
Postal Services Commission
NHS ambulance service Trust
NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Services Trust
Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Central Services Agency
Royal Navy Regulating Branch
Royal Military Police
Royal Air Force Police
Scottish Ambulance Service Board
A Scottish council where it is a fire authority
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Secret Intelligence Service
Security Service
Serious Fraud Office
The special police forces (including the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency)
The territorial police forces
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust

Please note: CPO, Surveillance Dude, Private Eye, Dog Handler is NOT on the list. If you are not acting on behalf on any of the above, never mention RIPA again for the duration of your natural life.

If you are one of those people who, on their investigation / security websites state: ‘Our company complies with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and the Human Rights Act 1998…blah blah, I challenge you, will call you a big liar and stand back from the heat as your pants catch fire.

It’s so simple people, if you are not on the above list, forget RIPA as if you have never heard of it. Simples..

Rural Surveillance Training

2011-09-28T03:10:00.000-07:00

Our rural surveillance course has been extended from three to four days. This course offers a BTEC Level 3 Award in Rural Surveillance Skills.

The next open course is scheduled for 11th - 14th June 2012.

Hidden Technology Systems International

2011-05-27T05:03:00.000-07:00

ISS form a strategic link with Hidden Technology combining technical training in the use of tracking equipment and conventional surveillance training.

During surveillance training with their Police, Government and Enforcement Agency clients, equipment supplied by HTSI is deployed to enhance conventional surveillance techniques.

Further details about HTSI can be found here www.hiddentec.com

Open Source Intelligence Training

2011-04-06T01:37:00.000-07:00

This two day open source intelligence course is for researchers, investigators and enforcement officers to gather intelligence and information via the internet.

This open source internet training will give the investigator the knowledge to research individuals, companies, organisations and internet traffic.

Over the two days you will carry out hands on research. The subjects covered include:-

# Understanding the Internet
# Understanding email traffic
# Obtaining the identity of email sender & recipients
# Effective use of search engines
# Searching social networking sites, forums and blogs
# Open sources of information and intelligence
# Research of telephone numbers, addresses and individuals
# Research of company and business information
# Identity of website ownership
# Setting up covert websites and email addresses
# Monitoring of websites and keywords of special interest

This course is taught by internet intelligence experts, it is not just a 'Google It' course.
Dates: 24th & 25th October 2011 in Skipton and 1st & 2nd February 2012 in Central London and 14th & 15th March 2012, Cost £280.00 plus VAT

Surveillance Training - South Africa

2011-02-28T03:42:00.000-08:00

Together with Delta One International of Johannesburg, South Africa, we are running a 6 day surveillance awareness and detection course on Saturday 26th March 2011.

The course is being run in Johannesburg.

If you wish to book on this course please contact Delta 1 International via their website Delta One International

Surveillance Detection Training - Sweden

2011-01-19T04:53:00.000-08:00

Together with Heimrisk Services of Sweden, we are running a 3 day surveillance detection course on Friday 26, 27 & 28th August 2011.

The course is being run in the Fargelanda area north of Gothenberg.

If you wish to book on this course please contact Heimrisks via their website Heimrisks Services

Surveillance Tradecraft Reprint

2011-01-17T02:00:00.000-08:00

Surveillance Tradecraft has been a great success since its publication in April 2010 with nearly 2000 copies sold in 10 months in 26 different countries.

We are now going into its first re-print which should be ready for February and hopefully any errors and spelling mistakes should have been corrected.

ISBN:978 0953537822

Visit: www.surveillance-tradecraft.co.uk

London Surveillance Training?

2011-01-17T01:55:00.000-08:00

We are often asked why we do not run more basic surveillance training courses in the London area. At the moment we run our 3 day foot surveillance course but this does not include any mobile element to it.

At first view, you would think that this would be a good idea as London is a large catchment area for potential students, especially for those that do not wish to travel to Skipton in Yorkshire or bear the burden of the extra expense of accommodation.

However, we have found that if we run a foot & mobile course in the London area, ideally it has to take place just inside or outside the M25 circular. Anymore central would not be beneficial to basic training, as the instruction would be impeded by volumes of traffic and we would not get very far! We understand that, that is real life and surveillance will be conducted in the City but it is not ideal for basic training.

The last course that we ran was conducted in the Romford area, which gave us good access to various types of urban districts. However, those students that lived on the west side of the city decided to get hotel accommodation nearby rather than get up very early, travel across the city (extra expense), and risk being late for class.

Therefore, wherever we decide to hold a course in the London area, someone has to travel and pay for accommodation, so why not just travel to Skipton? There are two trains a day direct from London Kings Cross or every hour if you go via Leeds and it takes about 3 hours, so come up an see us.

Infrared Imagery Pt 2

2010-09-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

With Digital SLR Cameras

Your digital camera has to be specially modified, having had the internal IR filter removed.

The IR source can be from various illuminators such as an array of LED’s or by means of a conventional flashgun fitted with an IR filter. The modified flashgun is the preferred option as the illumination is more powerful which assists in capturing detail and better images at longer distances.

The Flashgun

The flashgun is screened with a piece of IR filter glass which is dark red in colour. The filter has to be fitted so that any stray white light does not escape from the flash in order to remain covert.

The Camera Settings

Firstly you should go through the cameras’ menu and the following adjustments:

Review – off This prevents the rear screen from automatically illuminating as it displays the image just taken

LCD Brightness – low This keeps the rear viewing screen brightness down in the event you have to review the images

ISO – 400 Set the cameras’ ISO to 400

Red Eye – off This prevents a beam of light firing out of some cameras

Manual Focus This prevents the camera shooting out a beam of red light. In very poor light or total darkness, the camera lens is not able to focus unless it has something to focus on and so it emits this red beam. The disadvantage of manual focus, it that it can be tricky to focus on your subject in total darkness.

Auto Focus As mentioned, when the camera’s lens is set to auto focus, a red beam of light is emitted from the camera. If the situation is secure and permits you to get away with it (such as being close up or indoors) then use it.

Program Mode

The cameras program mode should be set to Manual (M). You will now have to manually adjust the shutter speed and aperture to the desired settings. A bit of experimentation is now required by bracketing the shutter speed.

It is recommended that you always try to use the largest aperture possible (f3.5 or f4.5) in order to let in as much light. However, if shooting very close up, it is recommended to set this to f8 in order to maximise depth of field (remember that IR light focuses at a different point)

So, with your cameras aperture set to f3.5, now set the shutter speed to 1/125th and take a picture.

Review the image; if it is too dark, then slow the shutter speed down to 1/90th, if it is to bright then use a faster shutter speed of 1/350th. Experiment until you get it right.

Be aware of shooting at shutter speeds of less than 1/60th as you may encounter blurring through camera shake. To obtain a faster shutter speed, increase your ISO setting to 800 or 1600.

Once you have transferred the images to a computer, it may be worth considering changing the format from colour to greyscale. This will give you a black & white picture rather than one with a red tinge to it.

Correct Exposure

Over Exposed

Fine Detail is Achievable

This Room Taken in Complete Darkness

To learn more, why not enrol on an ISS Surveillance Photography Course.

Infrared Imagery Pt 1

2010-09-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Covert imagery can be taken in complete darkness with the use of infrared light and a suitable camera. This can be conducted by using video camcorders or digital SLR cameras.

The majority of cameras (video and still) are fitted with an infrared filter, which is built into the body of the camera. This is used to filter out any natural infrared light from reaching the film/sensor as it will have an adverse effect on the final image.

Some video cameras have the facility to switch this filter off in order to let IR light through, it is commonly know as ‘Night Shot’. However, with digital SLR cameras it is not possible to do this and so any camera body to be used for IR, has to be specially modified by an engineer who physically removes the IR filter. Once this has been done, the camera will not be ale to be used in its normal mode unless the lens is fitted with a special filter.

Infrared Light

Infrared light cannot be seen by the naked eye. However there are various lamps, flashlights and illuminators that emit IR. They normally emit IR light in one of two frequencies 850 nanometres or 950 nanometres (nm). An illuminator of 850nm will transmit a feint red glow which is not fully covert but any illuminator transmitting on 950nm will be totally invisible to the naked eye.

IR light also focuses at a different point to natural white light. Be aware that if you are focusing on an object 50cm away, the actual IR point of focus will be approx 5cm behind the object, so this has to be considered when photographing detail.

Video Camcorders

A camcorder with a ‘Nightshot’ facility is very simple to use. Set the camera up, switch on the ‘NightShot’ facility, attach an IR illuminator, set the zoom to your requirements and away you go. You will be able to video in complete darkness.

The range of the IR illuminator will have to be tested at various distances and with differing zoom control. Vehicle registration plates will brightly reflect IR light and therefore can be recorded at further distances when the vehicle itself may not be illuminated.

In Part 2, we look at IR Digital SLR cameras.

RoadHawk Camera

2010-08-26T04:19:00.000-07:00

For those operators or Close Protection Officers carrying out recces, especially for mobile routes then this new camera may prove useful.

A small video camera unit that records onto an SD card for up to 5 days, was initially designed for insurance purposes. The idea is to continually let the camera run from your dashboard (or windscreen) in the event that you had an accident and thus have evidence of it. It also incorporates a GPS which continually records the co-ordinates as you drive.

Personally, I think the original idea/application seems a bit naff (who’s going to always record and it could be double edged!) but it does have its use in surveillance planing or operationally when there is a need to record from the vehicle.

On the Rural CTR phases of surveillance training, students have to recce a route in order to identify where a CTR team can be dropped off and picked up to carry out their task. After which they have to give a briefing to the team.

This camera is ideal for filming the route during the recce, as you may only get one chance at a drivepast. When played back, you can identify all the geographical features and route taken. The video clip can be viewed by projecting it onto a large screen for a briefing and what is also good about it, is that the playback is automatically split into two screens. On the left is the video footage and on the right is a Google Earth map, which plots the vehicle as it moves.

I presume, the camera would also prove useful to CPO’s conducting route recces.

A good piece of kit available from Dogcam Sport for £199.00

Welcome

2010-08-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to our surveillance blog.

We hope to post interesting articles for you to read in relation to operational surveillance and surveillance training.