The Cleaning Run is a one type of Counter Surveillance that was perfected and used by Soviet KGB officers during the cold war.  Basically, it means to Clean oneself of Physical Surveillance.  This technique was and is so effective that it is now used by all professional intelligence officers and trained operatives working in the world today.  While most Counter Surveillance techniques are used to detect physical surveillance, the Cleaning Run has a somewhat different objective. 

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            The purpose of the Cleaning Run is to lose surveillance.  When a person has finished performing a Cleaning Run, they should feel confident that no one is watching or following them.  It may be possible during the Cleaning Run to spot some surveillance, but the ultimate goal is to lose that surveillance.  This is done by utilizing certain techniques, called Tradecraft, and by traveling a confusing, unpredictable route.  A thorough Cleaning Run done by a professional can last up to 3 hours, will cover a large geographical area and will usually utilize several forms of transportation including buses, trains or subways, cars and walking.  By doing this, the agent is able to lead surveillance teams through quiet areas, busy intersections, crowded station and empty hallways – all in an effort to lose them.

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                A highly trained operative never acknowledges if he notices anything nor does he confront his followers.  He uses the cleaning run to observe and if he decides that he is if fact being watched, he will merely carry on with the run, giving his followers no indication that he has noticed them or that he is aborting his mission.  He may even have a bit of fun, perhaps leaving his cigarette pack sitting on a post box, knowing the surveillance team will leave members behind to watch and see if the pack is some kind of signal and who comes by to see it.  He may also begin talking with someone, simulating a meet, again knowing that the surveillance team will leave members behind to try to identify the person.  Every time this happens, the team’s numbers are diminished and will have a harder time following him.   

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                For their part, the surveillants tracking the operative are trying to be invisible by practicing Discreet Surveillance.  Using 8 to 10 member teams, they track the target using their own sophisticated techniques.  They must watch for counter surveillance moves by the target, be ready to do transitions from quiet back streets to busy crowded areas, all the while never doing anything to attract the target’s attention or the attention of anyone who may be helping the target by performing Static Counter Surveillance.  Anyone sitting on a bench or awaiting a train could be working with the target so the surveillants must blend in with the environment, never run or be seen talking into one’s sleeve relaying messages.   The surveillants also know that if they are burnt, they will never know it and the target may just lead them around all day.

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Most professional surveillance teams will conduct training based on this type on the Cleaning Run scenario as it is, by far, the most difficult task a team will face.  The most satisfying thing for a surveillance team is to watch as a target relaxes after a long cleaning run and meets with some unknown person.  The team knows they have passed a very rigorous test and now they are gaining very valuable intelligence.

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For an operative, it is always fun to watch from the window of a departing train and see 2 or 3 fellows running down the stairs to the platform, looking this way and that.  Very unprofessional of them and the operative can be pretty confident that he is now clean.

 

Who would use a cleaning run?

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A good intelligence agent has many reasons:  

·                      He is going to meet with an informant and does not want to be connected to the new person.  A cleaning run ensures that there will be no enemy agents watching his meeting.  All well-trained agents use this technique extensively.

·                      An agent may be heading to a safe house.  It won’t be a safe house for long if he is followed there.

·                      He may be going to engage in some activities or begin a operation.  Again, the cleaning run ensures no one follows him and observes him.

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Reasons a Private Investigator might use a training run:

·                      She may be meeting with a high profile client in a secret location.  Anyone who knows the association between the PI and the client may try to follow the PI. 

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Other professional reasons to use a cleaning run:

·                      A Close Protection officer (bodyguard) uses cleaning runs routinely when bringing clients to new locations.  These runs are critical when transferring the client to a safe house.*

·                      Cleaning runs are used when moving important documents or items from one location to another. 

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Other reasons cleaning runs could be used:

·                        Cheating spouses could use cleaning runs to ensure their spouse or a hired PI does not follow them to a rendezvous with their lover.

·                        A person being stalked or bothered by a persistent suitor could use a cleaning run to lose their follower so their plans for the evening can proceed uninterrupted.

·                        A person being investigated for insurance or other civil liability matters could use a cleaning run to ensure their day of fishing or other strenuous activity is not disturbed by any telephoto lens-toting investigators.

·                        Stars or minor celebrities could use a cleaning run to keep the paparazzi away from them.   

 

Read Spytrainers' own training manual "Cleaning Runs"

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