Page 41 - 1Proactive Policing

Pro-Active Policing

Police. The Metropolitan Police unit was formerly a Specialist Operations designation devoted to
covert policing, which was SO10. Since then, most of the Specialist Operations units have been

disbanded or merged, giving way to SO10 being merged into the Specialist Crime Directorate to
be designated SCD10. Now designated as SC&O 10, it falls under the purview of Specialist Crime
& Operations.

The concept of covert policing evolved from that of community policing, but as criminality

advanced, covert policing was seen to be needed to combat this.

CID detectives usually do not wear a uniform, which stemmed from the foundation of the CID.

Because detectives are often concerned with the evidence gathering stage of an investigation,
they are assumed by many to be the officers required to survey suspects as they go around their

daily routines, however, this is not the case. Specialist Surveillance Teams exist which deploy a
number of covert tactics in order to gather intelligence and evidence of subjects.

The public expect law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to use all available powers and tactics to
prevent and detect crime or disorder and maintain public safety. There are a number of covert
tactics available to law enforcement ‒ undercover policing is one of them. Applied correctly, and

supported by appropriate training, it is a proportionate, lawful and ethical tactic which provides an
effective means of obtaining evidence and intelligence.

To go "undercover" is to avoid detection by the entity one is observing, and especially
to disguise one's own identity or use an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of

an individual or organization to learn or confirm confidential information or to gain the trust of
targeted individuals in order to gather information or evidence. Traditionally, it is a technique
employed by law enforcement agencies or private investigators, and a person who works in such

a role is commonly referred to as an undercover agent.

SCO35 Covert Intelligence:

SCO 35 is the Met‘s dedicated covert policing command. As a Detective here, you‘ll get an

incredible opportunity to serve and support every business group in the investigation of diverse
and complex criminality. Working in SCO 35, you‘ll be joining a team that already has a strong
reputation for delivering exceptional services, often in the most challenging of circumstances.

41