What Is the Notice Period for a Surveillance Deployment?

Titan PI TV’s Simon Henson Explains How Quickly Professional Surveillance Can Be Deployed

In the latest episode of Titan PI TV, host and managing director of Titan Private Investigation Ltd, Simon Henson, lifts the lid on a question many clients ask at the very outset of a case: how much notice is needed to deploy a professional surveillance team?

Speaking from sunnier climes – far away from what he describes as the “wet and miserable” British weather – Henson uses the short but information-packed episode to outline the practical realities of organising surveillance, both in the UK and overseas. From notice periods and team sizes to costs, legal admissibility and the logistics behind international deployments, the episode offers a concise guide for anyone considering instructing a private investigation firm.

24 Hours’ Notice “Ideal” for UK Surveillance

For domestic operations within the United Kingdom, Simon Henson explains that 24 hours’ notice is the ideal minimum window to organise a surveillance deployment.

“In the UK we ideally need 24 hours’ notice,” he says. “But we will always try and facilitate any instruction.”

While the firm has a large national footprint, operatives still need to be identified, briefed and mobilised, and then travel to the location. Investigators are not always based on the client’s doorstep, so some lead time is essential.

Simon notes that shorter notice is sometimes possible. If a client calls and asks for surveillance to commence in three hours’ time, Titan will “always try and resource it”. However, he is candid that there are natural limits.

“If you ring up an hour before, it’s going to be unlikely that we’re going to be able to resource it,” he says.

Those last-minute requests often come at the most challenging times.

“When we get these enquiries, it’s usually on a Friday or a Saturday evening,” Simon adds. “That’s when it can be very difficult to resource because people may have had a drink or they may have plans.”

Despite this, Titan’s stance is clear: the team will do everything reasonably possible to assist, but clients should plan on 24 hours’ notice as a working minimum for UK surveillance.

Why Surveillance Requires at Least Two Operatives

A key point Simon stresses is that professional surveillance is not a one-person job.

“Surveillance always requires two surveillance operatives at an absolute minimum,” he explains.

The reason is rooted in operational practicality and the need to remain covert. If one operative alone attempts to follow a subject on foot or by car, they must be both the “close” operative and the “backup” – an impossible combination when the subject is mobile and unpredictable.

“If it’s just one surveillance operative, every time a vehicle turns left or right, or a person turns left or right or goes into a café, we have to go in close. It’s the same operative. It’s not possible.”

With two operatives, one can maintain a discrete distance while the other moves in closer when necessary. They can also swap positions, manage junctions and deal with sudden changes of direction without appearing conspicuous. In more complex or high-risk environments, larger teams may be used, but two is the professional minimum for mobile surveillance.

Static observations – where operatives simply watch a particular address and do not follow the subject away – can sometimes be managed with fewer resources, but for any form of mobile surveillance, the two‑operative rule stands.

Cost Structure: Minimum Five-Hour Deployments

Simon is notably transparent about pricing, outlining Titan’s standard surveillance rates for UK operations:

• £60 per hour plus VAT per operative
• This equates to £72 per hour including VAT per operative
• A minimum deployment of five consecutive hours

“We deploy for a minimum of five hours, consecutive hours,” he says. “You can’t do two and then later on three. It’s five straight hours.”

Many agencies, he notes, work on a six‑hour minimum. Titan has opted to keep its minimum deployment at five hours to offer more flexibility and value to clients while still reflecting the logistics, planning and travel that go into each operation.

For clients, this means that even a relatively short surveillance deployment must be treated as a structured operation, not an ad‑hoc one‑hour observation. Travel time, pre‑deployment planning, on‑the‑ground coordination and post‑operation reporting all form part of the overall service.

Real-Time Updates and Comprehensive Reporting

One of the distinguishing features of Titan’s approach, as outlined by Simon, is the emphasis on real-time client communication.

“We will keep you updated throughout the deployment,” he says. “Constant updates and images.”

Updates are usually provided via WhatsApp, though Titan will use whatever secure communication channel the client prefers. This allows clients – whether private individuals or legal professionals – to remain fully informed as events unfold, and to make decisions quickly if the situation changes.

Within 24 hours of the deployment, Titan provides a comprehensive written report. This report includes:

• A chronological account of the surveillance
• Still images captured during the operation
• Details of movements, locations and interactions, where observed
• Any relevant contextual information to support the client’s case

Lawful Evidence, Tested in Court

Crucially, Simon affirms that all imagery and evidence gathered by Titan is collected lawfully, which is vital for both ethical practice and legal admissibility.

“Because all of our imagery and evidence is gathered lawfully, it is fully admissible in any court,” he says, “whether that be a family, civil or criminal court – that has been tested.”

This reassurance is significant for solicitors, corporate clients and private individuals alike. Surveillance evidence is often used in family proceedings, employment disputes, civil litigation and occasionally in criminal matters. If gathered improperly, it risks being challenged or excluded. Titan’s emphasis on lawful processes and proven court admissibility highlights the firm’s professional standards.

Overseas Surveillance: Why a Week’s Notice Is Needed

The second half of the episode turns to overseas deployments, where the notice period and operational complexity increase substantially.

“Overseas is slightly different,” Simon explains. “Ideally, one week’s notice.”

The extended notice period is driven by the additional layers of planning required when sending operatives abroad. These include:

• Resourcing the team appropriately for the destination
• Securing visas, where required
• Booking flights and accommodation
• Ensuring the ethnicity and skin colour of operatives are appropriate for the local environment, so the team does not “show out”
• Selecting operatives with the right profile – including relevant experience and demeanour
• Where possible, using operatives who speak the local language
• Deploying investigators with some knowledge of the country, so that “we hit the ground running”

All of this requires time, coordination and, in some cases, compliance with additional regulatory or health requirements.

“We’ve got to get visas, potentially flights, accommodation,” Simon says. “Potentially immunisation if it’s required.”

Larger Teams for International Operations

For overseas surveillance, Titan typically deploys three to four operatives for mobile work – a step up from the UK minimum of two.

“It’s going to need three to four surveillance operatives,” Simon notes. “Two in the UK is a minimum, unless it’s static… If it’s a mobile surveillance, it’s going to need three to four when we go abroad.”

The rationale is straightforward. In a foreign environment, particularly in holiday destinations or locations where people are more alert to their surroundings, subjects tend to be more observant. They are taking in the environment, exploring new places and often moving through busy, unfamiliar locations.

“People usually notice more when they’re abroad because they’re taking in the environment, especially if it’s a holiday location,” he says.

Larger teams provide the flexibility to manage entry and exit points, swap operatives in and out of close contact, and maintain effective coverage without drawing undue attention.

Overseas Costs: Same Hourly Rate, Extra Logistics

Despite the added complexity of international deployments, Simon confirms that the hourly rate remains the same as in the UK:

• £60 per hour plus VAT per operative
• A minimum of five hours per day, per operative

He illustrates the cost calculation:

“You’re looking at £360 per operative per five hours,” he says.

To that baseline, clients must add the cost of:

• Flights
• Accommodation
• Visas and travel documentation (where required)
• Any necessary immunisations or health requirements
• Local transport and associated expenses

As with UK operations, clients receive continuous updates during the surveillance and a comprehensive report within 24 hours of the deployment, complete with still images taken from the footage. Titan can also supply the underlying video surveillance footage if required.

All evidence, Simon re‑emphasises, is gathered lawfully and is fully admissible in civil, criminal and family courts, even when collected overseas.

A Transparent Look Inside a Live Investigation Agency

Throughout the episode, Simon reiterates Titan’s commitment to transparency and professionalism. Titan PI TV provides what he describes as a look “on the inside” of a live operation investigation agency, sharing not only the “what” but also the “how” behind professional surveillance work.

For those who prefer audio, the Titan PI TV Podcast is available on all major platforms, allowing listeners to access the same expert insight wherever they download their podcasts.Simon

Titan PI TV is approaching the 3,000‑subscriber milestone on YouTube, and Simonexpresses his appreciation:

“We’re almost at that magic 3,000 subscribers, and I thank every single one of you for that.”

In a lighter moment, he invites viewers to guess his sunny location in the comments. One lucky viewer who guesses correctly, he promises, will receive a free Titan hat and T‑shirt.

Clear Notice Periods for Effective Surveillance

The central takeaway from this latest Titan PI TV episode is clear: while the firm will always do its best to respond rapidly, planning ahead is crucial for effective, lawful and discreet surveillance.

• In the UK, clients should aim to provide at least 24 hours’ notice, understanding that resourcing an operation in under three hours may be challenging, and an hour’s notice is likely to be unworkable.
• For overseas deployments, clients should factor in around one week’s notice to allow for visas, travel bookings, team selection and local considerations.

In both contexts, surveillance is a team operation, requiring a minimum of two operatives in the UK and three to four abroad for mobile work. Costs are transparent, evidence is gathered lawfully and tested in court, and clients are kept fully informed from first deployment to final report.

For individuals, businesses and legal practitioners considering surveillance, Simon’s message is direct: understand the lead times, appreciate the professional resources involved, and you will be far better placed to achieve the outcome you need.

To watch the full episode and future instalments of “Titan PI TV” with Simon Henson, viewers are encouraged to subscribe to the channel and join a growing community keen to understand the realities of modern private investigation.

What’s Next on Titan PI TV?

Titan PI TV continues to grow steadily, with 3004 subscribers and counting—a testament to the appetite for straight-talking guidance in a complex field. If you found Simon Henson’s insights useful, subscribe to the channel to catch future episodes. New content drops every Friday at 3:00 pm, offering grounded advice for investigators, agency owners, and professionals who work with them.

Thank you for reading, watching, or listening to this week’s blog post on Titan PI TV. For more expert advice and behind-the-scenes insights, subscribe to Titan PI TV on YouTube or download the Titan PI TV podcast wherever you get your podcasts. If you found this information helpful, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of private investigations. Until next time, stay safe and keep learning!

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