Some tips for chugger monitoring

1. Check if the place you're monitoring has a "Site Management Agreement" with the PFRA. You could try asking the PFRA but they might not tell you so asking your local council is the way forward. Probably not the "County" council or the "Parish" council but the one in between. May be called a "Borough" or "District" Council. Another route is to check press reports.
2. The SMA may also give you the exact chugger locations and their time of operation.
3. Stroll through the chugging zone and see if you can spot any chuggers. Sometimes you won't see any. Sometimes they break for lunch. Even if they are permitted to chug until (say) 1800 they may leave at 1700.
4. Don't try to record/film/test the chuggers straight away. Instead just watch. Ideally, you'll do this from somewhere they can't see you. Some cafes have upstairs areas, grab a coffee and a window seat. Or stand just outside the chugging zone like you are waiting for someone.
5. What you'll likely notice is that some of the chuggers are behaving themselves perfectly. They don't pursue people and take "No" for an answer.
6. Then you'll spot him (or her)! The one who is just to enthusiastic, desperate and in people's faces. This is the one to focus on

OK, you have your target, so what's next? Ideally you want to capture evidence of bad behaviour. Here's a few ideas but do tailor your method!

Photographs

• Still photographs are probably best just for illustration. You are unlikely to get convincing evidence although operating a camera in "burst mode" may work.
• Video is likely to collect evidence better
• Unless you have a concealed camera, chuggers will notice you. Quite quickly in my experience. A few people have had altercations with chuggers over this. I had one try to follow me so I just dodged him until he must have realised how bad he looked chasing me!
• A protected location such as an overlooking cafe window is ideal.

Sound Recording

A modern sound recorder in your pocket is not only invisible to the chuggers, it doesn't need any attention from you. It's ideal if you plan to get into conversation with chuggers - not something you'd normally do - but there's lots of scope for catching them telling you lies as well.

Hope this helps!