Covert Surveillance has arrived in Chicago

The first official covert surveillance cameras have been launched in Chicago and are set to replace many of the Blue Light cameras that have been installed in the crime ridden areas of the city.

The existing cameras are highly visible and easily spotted, this puts criminals on their guard but also allows easy targeting for damage and vandalism. The new covert surveillance cameras are tiny, small enough to fit into a matchbox says Police Superintendent Jody Weis.

Covert cameras have long been used to ensnare corrupt politicians and government officials in the city, currently the police force is down 2,000 officers due to budget cuts and it is hoped that covert cameras will enable some of that gap to be bridged. The cameras will be so discreet that drug dealers and gangs will be filmed without realising where currently they can easily spot the blue light cameras.

There has been some opposition to the covert surveillance from some quarters and allegations that rogue officers could abuse them have been levelled at the police department.

Kidnapping in Nigeria – Close Protection Requirements Imperative

News just breaking that 5 people have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta – the oil producing region for Nigeria, it is unknown at present whether the five people were under security supervision and close protection at the time.

The five are all journalists and South African news reports are quoting 3 of them as being Sports Journalists from the satellite SuperSport channel. The three journalists were kidnapped along with 2 Nigerians and it is possible they were en-route to the airport at the time.

the Niger Delta is attracting increasing attention from former rebels, it is recognised now that the presidential amnesty which pardoned many criminals and former rebels will fuel a rise in this type of activity. It is strongly recommeded that all foreigners should utilise close protection teams when travelling to and from the oil producing complexes from other locations especially airports.

The increase in this type of activity is driven by the need for the former rebels to supplement their former activities with other sources of income.

The Niger Delta is now a very high risk area for foreigners and advice on close protection is a must for all travellers in that region.

Mid January saw the raising of the UK terror alert level from substantial to severe due to intelligence sources receiving a non-specific warning that the UK is facing an imminent threat from Al Qaeda.

Surveillance by UK security services led anti-terror police to raid two homes in Birmingham at the end of January where they arrested a thirty year old man and seized terrorist material. Computer equipment was also seized during this and a coinciding raid two miles away in the Kings Heath area.

Although the raids were not specifically linked to the increased threat level, it shows that tracking the terrorists activity through serveillance is counter-productive to the terrorists actions. Supporters of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations are situated throughtout the UK and use their means to distribute terrorist publications that may incite others towards these acts. Remove the support network and you lower the threat.

The recent raids were carried out after a lengthy and ongoing investigation with the minimum of fuss. Investigators are then given 48 hours to question suspects and must then either charge, release or apply for a warrant for further detention. There is no bail allowed in these cases under UK terrorism laws.

This is the highest level of threat the UK has felt since July 2009 and security services around the world are on guard. This is partly due to the failed plane bombing over Detroit on Christmas Day by an al Qaeda recruit who had been studying in London before his terrorist training in Yemen. Inteliigence sources had also picked up on irregular activity over the internet which is a key indicator of imminent attacks.

This type of surveillance is used by security services throughout the world every minute of the day in the fight against terrorism and pays off in more ways than we are made aware of.

Two young Neo-Nazi males have been arrested on suspicion of being responsible for the February 2nd bomb attacks on a train in St Petersburg.

Russian security services have released the news that two males ages 19 and 20 who belong to a radical right wing group have been arrested for their part in the explosion. Investigations led intelligence to the group who posted messages on the internet claiming responsibility. The explosion occured just as the train was leaving the Baltic Railway Station in St Petersburg. The train driver was seriously injured but fortunately no-one was killed.

It is also believed that the same group – and possibly the same two men – are responsible for the murder of a Ghanian man on 25th December 2009. Racism has become an escalating problem in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union and has recently culminated in the cold blodded killing of this 25yr old man in St Petersburg where the perpetrators inflicted over 20 knife wounds to his head, neck, chest, kidneys, stomach and limbs.