Directed Surveillance
Directed surveillance is covert surveillance that seeks to discover private information about a person. This type of surveillance does not involve entry onto or interference with a person’s property, nor does it cover anything taking place on residential premises or in a private vehicle.
Directed surveillance may involve the monitoring of a person’s movements, habits or activities by various means in order to obtain specific information about an individual or build a profile of their character or lifestyle.
Both directed surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources are authorised internally by the organisation concerned, by an authorising officer of appropriate rank (see SI No. 2417 Prescription of Offices, Ranks and Provisions Order 2000). The authorising officer must be satisfied that such conduct is necessary on one or more of the following grounds:
- national security,
- preventing or detecting crime or preventing disorder,
- economic well being of the UK,
- protecting public health,
- protecting public safety or,
- the collection of any tax, duty, levy or other payment due to a government department.
