Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) and Directed Surveillance

Question 1

What is a CHIS?

Answer 1

they establish/ maintain a personal or other relationship with a person for the covert purpose of facilitating either:
a) covertly using the relationship to obtain information or to provide access to any information to another person
or
b) covertly disclosing information obtained by the used of such a relationship or as a consequence of the existence of such a relationship

Question 2

Examples of human source activity that are not CHIS

Answer 2

• Neighbourhood Watch
• Teachers
• Medical Professionals
• Housing Officers
• Council
• Social Workers
• Prison Staff
• Probation Staff
• Bank Staff
• Accountants

Question 3

What is a confidential contact?

Answer 3

individual/ member of organisation (who is not a CHIS) who discloses information to the police from which an individual can be identified and there exists personal, professional or other risks by their doing so

Question 4

How should you record information from a confidential contact?

Answer 4

a Form A (intelligence report) on niche and submit to the Intelligence Management Unit - record their details in full and why they are confidential

Question 5

What is surveillance?

Answer 5

a) the monitoring, observing, or listening of:
i) persons
ii) their movements
iii) their conversations
iiii) their other activities
v) communication

b) recording anything monitored, observed or listened to in the course of surveillance

c) surveillance by or with the assistance of a surveillance device

Question 6

What is covert surveillance?

Answer 6

surveillance that is carried out in such a manner calculated to ensure that the persons subject to surveillance are unaware that it is or may be taking place

Question 7

What is directed surveillance?

Answer 7

covert, but not intrusive, and is undertaken for the purposes of a specific operation/ investigation; in such a manner as is likely to result in obtaining private information about a person (whether or not specifically identified for the purposes of the investigation/ operation), otherwise than by way of an immediate response to events or circumstances

Question 8

What is private information?

Answer 8

private information will be obtained only if it is to be recorded in any way. Information only amounts to private information about a person if it is biographical about them

The test is whether the information obtained reveals something about the way in which a person lives their life e.g. their preferences, beliefs, or other nature and extent of their relationships

Question 9

What are the human rights articles that are breached during covert observations?

Answer 9

Article 6 - Right to a Fair Trial
Article 8 - Right to Private and Family Life

Question 10

What are the 6 principles of ECHR that we must consider before surveillance can start?

Answer 10

1. Subsidiarity
2. Legality
3. Equality of Arms
4. Remedy
5. Relevance and Necessity
6. Proportionality

Question 11

What are the 4 main crime types that as a force we are committed to?

Answer 11

Child Sexual Exploitation
Human Trafficking
Violence - Exploitation of Vulnerable Victims
Cyber Crime