Foot Surveillance

Foot Surveillance

If one-man foot surveillance must be used, be cautious when you are on the same side of the street as the subject. Stay to the rear and vary your distance from the subject. Set your distance according to physical conditions like size of crowds and number of exits.

If the subject turns a corner, continue across the street, keeping the subject in view. Then, operating from across the street, you can fall in behind or move to the front or side of the subject. Decide which position will give you the best view. When the subject turns a corner, you may want to be abreast of him to see if he makes a contact or enters a building.

For two-man foot surveillance, use the “AB” technique. The person right behind the subject has the A position. The other surveillant has the B position. When using the AB technique, A follows the subject and B follows A. B may be on the same side of the street as A. Or he may be on the opposite side of the street.

When both A and B are on the same side of the street, and the subject turns a corner to the right, A continues across the street. Then he signals B what action to take. The subject’s actions may require B to take the A position, and A to take the B position. Signals between A and B should attract as little attention as possible.

When B is across the street and the subject turns the corner to the right–away from B–B crosses and takes the A position. This step should be prearranged so no signals will be needed. If the subject turns the corner to the left and crosses toward B, B drops back to avoid contact. B then waits for a signal from A before making the next move.

For three-man foot surveillance, the “ABC” technique offers ease. And it is consistent with reasonable manpower resources. Use this technique for close foot surveillance unless you lack the manpower. The main advantage of the ABC technique is that it lets you cover the subject from two sides. As in the AB technique, A follows the subject and B follows A. C normally stays across the street and just to the rear of the subject.

The ABC technique allows several choices when the subject turns the corner. Assume A and B are behind the subject and C is across the street when the subject turns the corner away from C. A could keep going straight and B would take the A position. C would move across to the B position. A would stay across the street, moving as C had done before.

Another approach would be for C to move into the A position. A would go across and take up the C position, while B keeps his own. What if the subject turns left and crosses the street toward C? C drops back and A continues in the original direction and becomes C. Then B moves into the A position, and C becomes B.