Service · Reconnaissance

Protective Reconnaissance.
Advance Work.

Covert observation and systematic advance reconnaissance — the invisible foundation of every serious protection concept.

Foundation

What you don't know
can't protect you.

Every protection decision rests on information. Whoever doesn't know a situation can't assess it — and whoever doesn't assess it, doesn't protect, but reacts.

Observation and reconnaissance provide the situational picture protection concepts are built on. They verify threats, identify observers, document movement patterns and clear locations ahead of every relevant appointment. Factual, discreet, legally sound.

Building Blocks

Six disciplines.
One situational picture.

Depending on the assignment, individual building blocks are combined or deployed independently — always based on a written briefing and clearly defined escalation limits.

01

Advance Work

Preparation ahead of every appointment — locations, routes, interfaces. By the time the client arrives, nothing is left to chance.

02

Site & Environment Reconnaissance

Personal inspection of locations, entrances, escape routes, staff density and possible observation positions — all documented.

03

Hotel Security Assessment

Security assessment of hotels before a stay — room location, floor security, approach routes, crisis routes and security personnel.

04

Route Analysis

Structured assessment of driving routes — critical points, bottlenecks, alternatives, exit points. The foundation for every security driver.

05

Protective Intelligence & OSINT

Evaluation of publicly available information (open source intelligence) to assess individuals, situations and threats — factual, legally sound.

06

Threat Assessment & Situational Pictures

Structured classification of the threat situation — with continuous updates and concrete recommendations to the client.

Approach

Four steps.
Clear limits.

Observation is a structured process — not improvisation. Every assignment follows the same procedure and ends with complete documentation.

01

Briefing

Confidential initial conversation, clarification of assignment, objective and legal framework. Written assignment basis.

02

Reconnaissance

Preparation of equipment, route planning, selection of observation positions and team coordination.

03

Execution

Covert, situation-oriented observation. Permanent personal safety, continuous situational assessment and situational adaptation.

04

Report

Structured evaluation, written documentation and personal debriefing. Result and recommendation in one.

“Every protection officer is only as good as the picture they have of the situation. Observation and reconnaissance are the place where this picture is formed.”

Andreas Stöbe Founder · AS Personal Security Service
Frequently Asked Questions

What clients typically want to know.

How does observation differ from classic personal protection?

Personal protection actively protects a person on site. Observation clarifies in advance where the actual need for protection comes from — covertly, factually, without intervening in the situation.

Both disciplines complement each other: a properly conducted observation makes every subsequent protection assignment more precise and calmer.

How discreet is an observation in practice?

Covert observation means: the target person doesn't notice it. That's not a matter of hope, but the result of careful preparation — equipment, positioning, team size, rotation tactics.

The client also stays protected: observation assignments are never discussed — neither beforehand nor afterward.

What documentation do I receive after the assignment?

As standard: a written report with timeline, observation points and assessment. On request, supplemented with photo, video and audio material as well as a court-ready version, if legal use is foreseeable.

Is observation even legal — and what is permitted?

Observation in public spaces is permissible with legitimate interest and clearly defined by case law. We work exclusively within the legal framework, with documented assignment basis and in compliance with data protection requirements.

Where boundaries lie, we say so before the assignment — not only once a report is in a lawyer's hands.

When does observation make sense for me or my company?

Typical occasions: suspected stalking, unresolved threats, tensions with former employees or business partners, recurring signs of being watched, preparation for sensitive events or travel.

A confidential initial conversation usually clarifies within an hour whether and in what form observation is appropriate.

Contact

Clarify the Situation —
Before It Clarifies Itself.

Every inquiry is treated with absolute confidentiality. We respond personally within 24 hours.

Make a confidential inquiry