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Intelligence-led surveillance

A picture is said to tell a thousand words, so how many could we expect CCTV video to tell? There is obviously huge potential for information in incident video material, and even standard video may have a wealth of information. Yet there are very few occasions when it is used effectively.

On most occasions, CCTV operators are not observing in a way that optimises the kinds of things they could pick up, and quite frankly, they are often not briefed or managed in a way that would lead them to this additional information. Most schemes focus on monitoring, and if the occasional incident is detected, so much the better.

While CCTV has been around for a relatively short period, intelligence gathering has existed for a large number of years. Although primarily related to military and policing and, more recently national security, intelligence has been credited with solving major crimes and stopping threats to public and organisational wellbeing. However, the relationship between intelligence and CCTV surveillance functions has seldom been leveraged to any extent until there is a crisis such as the London bombings. Where this has happened, it has often been a one-way process with surveillance providing information, and intelligence personnel keeping things to themselves. However, combining the contributions of CCTV and intelligence functions, and exchanging information, can provide major benefits and add substantial value to both roles. This has led to calls for new insights that can be generated from CCTV operators and analytical skills that need to be made in order to effectively collect certain data.

Intelligence requires information and in this context CCTV surveillance can be a major provider of this. Extensive analysis and evaluation of information will be done on data received by intelligence analysts and this analysis can provide substantial added value to video material. A major benefit to this is that CCTV operators responsible for live viewing become more aware of questions they must be able to answer and start looking far more critically at what they are seeing on screen. It makes for a more active viewing process, and enhances targeting through the effective identification of indicators, risk levels and priority setting on individuals or groups who need to be closely observed.

One of the most difficult questions for managers, supervisors and operators of CCTV systems is where they need to focus the attention of cameras and operators in order to correctly address the risk within the enterprise. Typically, CCTV operations have a large number of cameras, a smaller proportion of monitors and relatively few operators. It is impossible to look everywhere all the time and the operator needs an informed basis to decide what to watch, where, and when. While some operators tend to learn this automatically over time, the benefit of an intelligence led system allows far more focus, and ultimately better cost return for the CCTV investment. Based on intelligence input, operators can be given information on the appropriateness of targets, and the people and conditions they observe can be made far more relevant rather than being part of a random process.

Because intelligence and CCTV functions have typically worked independently of each other, there is a need for a variety of things if the relationship is to be effective. These include:

* Defining the nature of the relationship and responsibilities of the two parties.

* What information needs to be passed on within this relationship and what may be kept confidential - the sooner this is defined, the quicker potential issues in relationships can be avoided.

* What kinds of indicators are required from each party - ie, the kinds of behaviour/actions CCTV need to be aware of to pass on, and the kind of things intelligence need to give surveillance to make them more effective.

* A common awareness of body language and its role in surveillance.

* Data coding that everybody can agree on to ensure that information generated can be incorporated into the systems of the respective parties.

* An intelligence database that is effective and allows one to interrogate the system and establish relationships between different elements. A standard database or spreadsheet file is simply not good enough for proper intelligence analysis.

Training on the possible interaction between CCTV and intelligence is an important starting point to ensure that the parties are speaking the same language and can work as a team. Intelligence-led surveillance training courses held recently in Australia by the author and an Australian intelligence expert demonstrated that when people from both functions are in the same environment and discussing the issues, it helps substantially with the respective insight into how to get things done. This relates to the design of systems and databases, designating indicators, what people should look at and report on, coding and analysis, and establishing practical guidelines for all parties to follow.

Dr Craig Donald

Dr Craig Donald is a human factors specialist in security and CCTV. He is a director of Leaderware, which provides instruments for the selection of CCTV operators, X-ray screeners and other security personnel in major operations around the world. He also runs CCTV Surveillance Skills and Body Language, and Advanced Surveillance Body Language courses for CCTV operators, supervisors and managers internationally, and consults on CCTV management. He can be contacted on 011 787 7811 or [email protected]

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