Anti Surveillance
Anti Surveillance is the process of identifying whether you are under surveillance yourself and who is watching you.
Identifying whether you are really being followed can be tricky but Anderson & Co operatives can talk you through the tell-tale signs and train you to spot them yourself. To put it simply we are covert surveillance and private investigation experts so we know every method that other agencies will employ.
We can spot them and we can keep you and your information safe.
There are also a number of interesting methods and techniques that can be used which will make anyone following you or surveillance teams reveal themselves if they are following you or to lose you once they have been identified.
Once the the threat is identified there are then measures in place that we take as both Protective Surveillance and Close Protection operatives to ensure that no harm comes to our private client, their families and that your day can continue as smoothly as possible.
It is important to note that anti surveillance is not counter surveillance although both are often needed at the same time.
How Do I Know If I Am Being Watched?
The most efficient and certain way to ascertain whether you are being watched would be to engage an Anderson & Co agent.
We can provide fully trained Close Protection operatives to assist you throughout the day and they will know what to look for.
The advantages of this is both the clarity of a professional opinion and knowing that you are safe.
We are also able to put together a "daily routine" for clients that aren't sure and don't want someone shadowing their every move.
These can be tailored around your working day and will allow you to utilise all of the above without causing too much disruption to your day
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If you are suspicious but not sure then you need to be aware of the common covert surveillance signs.
Firstly there are different types of surveillance: static and mobile.
Static Surveillance
- Static surveillance will be used anywhere where you regularly spend a lot of your time. This can be your home or at work.
- The important thing is that someone can easily identify that you are going to be there for enough time and frequency to justify methods which can be time consuming and/or expensive.
- This can include electronic bugging, cameras, drones or physical surveillance from a vantage point.
- The technical equipment is expensive, requires set up and maintenance and using physical operatives costs of lot of time and money to run. This is why the agents want to be certain that you will be at that location.
- Look for locations that someone can observe you from such as an overlooking window or a parked car. If you see someone there throughout the day then that is a sign to be suspicious.
- Is there evidence that your home or office has been tampered with?
- This could include signs of building maintenance work that you were not expecting such as discolouration in walls or the ceiling, dust or debris, or electrical devices or fixtures looking slightly "different".
- Is there any evidence of a break in but nothing was stolen?
- Have you been given unexpected gifts? (often a clock radio) or has something like that appeared recently?
- Bugging devices can sometimes cause interference with your phone or TV.
- The best way to deal with this is to have a professional agent perform counter surveillance services.
Mobile Surveillance
- Mobile surveillance is any method where you are being watched on the move. This could be you being following on foot or your car being tracked.
- Anti surveillance is more orientated around identifying a threat whilst on the move.
- The key to identifying hostile surveillance is:
- Multiple sightings of the same person or vehicle. As long as you are not on a regular route then it is unlikely that you should see the same person repeatedly.
- Unusual behaviour. This includes any act that shows that you are being watched as well as any deliberate attempt to keep you in sight.
- Often it is difficult to gain enough evidence simply from going about your daily routines however this is where you can employ a Surveillance Detection Route.
- This is a pre-determined route with seemingly random additions which would force anyone following you into unusual behaviour to keep track of you.
- You can employ these techniques yourself if you are suspicious.
- From going around a roundabout several times whilst driving, pulling over at completely random places to taking de-tours away from your natural route.
- Consider doing a complete U-turn on either foot or in a car. Going up an escalator and then immediately coming down the other side.
- These are all great anti-surveillance techniques and are often used by our operatives when carrying out Protective Surveillance duties.
- A professional agent will know the areas on your vehicle where someone would plant a tracking device. These are by nature very hard to spot. Even to someone servicing the vehicle.
Who Is Spying On Me?
There are dozens of reasons why an individual or group could be observing your movements or communications. Anyone can be put under hostile surveillance regardless of how high profile they are.
- Higher Profile
- Journalists or Paparazzi
- Criminal Organisations or Gangs
- Fans or Followers
- Foreign Governments
- Protest groups
- Opposition Political Parties
- Stalkers or persons with mental health issues
- Interest Groups such as Political or Industrial lobby groups
- Lower Profile
- Matrimonial Investigations from a current spouse or partner
- Police
- Ex-Partners either stalking or wanting to know the identity of a new partner
- Harassers or anti social behaviour
Don't let yourself be hounded. Protect yourself and your privacy!
Dedicated: Anderson & Co Will Keep You Safe
Anti surveillance techniques are almost always employed along with close protection, protective and counter surveillance.
It should not be assumed that a person following you does not mean you harm.
Engaging an agent means that you can be more certain of the signs that you are being followed and that you will have complete confidence that you will be kept safe.
You will also be advised on risky times or areas in your daily routine and trained on how to avoid being followed.
If a suspect has been identified then we can perform background checks on them for suspicious signs.
We are fully GDPR compliant, members of the ICO as well as the Private Investigators network and WAPI. Your information will remain 100% confidential at all times.