BOOK REVIEW Covert Rural Surveillance
pmcimagazine.com
COVERT RURAL
SURVEILLANCE
It’s been my real pleasure this month to interview Ben Wall
about his courses in Covert Rural Surveillance Operations, and
you’ll find a complete overview of what CROPS offer starting on
Page 4 of this issue of PMCI.
What led me to the interview in the first place was reading Bens
detailed and informative book on the subject, and whether you’re
involved in this professionally or just have an interest, then this is
a book you should really have on your shelf for regular reference.
Covert Rural Surveillance is the definitive tradecraft manual
dedicated to modern military techniques and covert tactics for
rural operations, especially those involving surveillance. With over
550 pages and in excess of 1500 colour images and diagrams
the book offers an unrivalled insight onto this unique subject.
And Ben Wall is the very man to cover this as he served in the
British Military for many years and conducted operations in a
reconnaissance and surveillance role.
As a qualified reconnaissance instructor he was a member
of the directing staff on numerous military courses, directly
training other soldiers in this specialised field. Since leaving the
military, Ben has worked in the private sector, conducting covert
surveillance and investigations in the UK and overseas, as well
as running specialist training courses.
He fully understands that the rural environment is by far the most
challenging, requiring the most stringent personal discipline.
He has amassed the content of his book over many years
whilst running courses, and his professionalism, knowledge,
and enthusiasm for his subject shines out from every page. The
book is logically and clearly laid out and covers planning and
preparation, clothing and equipment, comms, land navigation,
fieldcraft, patrol skills, constructing concealed rural hides, logging
and reporting, and close target recce.
There are also excellent technical sections discussing the
specialist hardware required for covert rural operations, as well
as a detailed section dealing with the law and legal issues
pertinent to the subject. All in all this is a very thorough overview
of a fascinating type of operating style, and comes highly
recommended by PMCI.
Author: Ben Wall
Publisher: Intel Publishing
ISBN: 978-09535378 46
Price: £34.99
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