FIELD OPS · CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
AE-SOP-0301 — Target Dossier Opening & Tiering
To standardise how an adversary becomes a tracked target and how its intervention tier is set, reviewed, and de-escalated. The procedure guarantees that no dossier opens without corroborated reporting, that every escalation rests on explicit recorded criteria, and that Direct-Action requires Admiralty sign-off with documented rules of engagement — so that conviction never outruns evidence.
ActiveField OpsRev E
1. Purpose
To standardise how an adversary becomes a tracked target and how its intervention tier is set, reviewed, and de-escalated. The procedure guarantees that no dossier opens without corroborated reporting, that every escalation rests on explicit recorded criteria, and that Direct-Action requires Admiralty sign-off with documented rules of engagement — so that conviction never outruns evidence.
2. Scope
All Intelligence & Dispatch target dossiers.
- In scope: Dossier opening, intervention-tier assignment, escalation criteria, periodic review, and de-escalation.
- Out of scope: Forensic sampling against a target, which follows AE-SOP-0312; gear-recovery execution at Disrupt tier, which follows AE-SOP-0320.
3. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Dossier | The standing intelligence file on a tracked adversary, vessel, or operation. |
| Intervention Tier | The authorised level of engagement: Observe, Document, Disrupt, or Direct Action. |
| Escalation Criteria | The explicit, evidence-based conditions that must hold before a tier is raised. |
| Rules of Engagement | The recorded constraints governing a Direct-Action operation, approved by Admiralty. |
4. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Intelligence & Dispatch (Owner) | Owns the dossier process; opens files, sets opening tier, and runs cyclic review. |
| Intelligence Analyst | Corroborates reporting, records escalation criteria, and proposes tier changes. |
| Fleet Admiralty | Signs off Direct-Action tier and approves rules of engagement. |
| NEREID | Tracks dossier signals, prompts cyclic review, and flags criteria met or no longer holding. |
5. Intervention Tier Criteria
| Tier | Trigger Criteria | Authority | Review Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observe | Corroborated reporting, no active harm | Dispatch | Each cycle |
| Document | Evidence of ongoing illegal activity | Dispatch | Each cycle |
| Disrupt | Imminent or active ecological harm | Dispatch + Ops lead | Weekly |
| Direct Action | Severe harm, exhausted alternatives | Fleet Admiralty only | Per operation |
Note. De-escalate the moment the criteria no longer hold; a tier is never held higher than the current evidence supports.
6. Materials & Equipment
- Corroborated source reporting from at least two independent channels
- Dossier template with tier and criteria fields
- Cyclic review schedule
- Admiralty sign-off and rules-of-engagement block
- Intervention-tier definitions (current revision)
- Linked evidence and metric feeds
7. Procedure
7.1 Opening
- Open a dossier only on corroborated reporting from two independent sources.
- Set the opening tier at Observe unless imminent harm justifies higher.
- Record explicit, evidence-based criteria for each future escalation.
7.2 Review
- Review tier each cycle against the recorded criteria.
- De-escalate the moment the criteria no longer hold.
- Escalate only when the criteria for the next tier are demonstrably met.
7.3 Direct Action
- Refer any Direct-Action proposal to Fleet Admiralty.
- Direct-Action tier requires Admiralty sign-off and recorded rules of engagement.
- Hold rules of engagement on file for the duration of the operation.
8. Records
- Target dossier with tier history and criteria (retained to case close + 5 years)
- Source-corroboration record
- Cyclic review log with escalation/de-escalation decisions
- Admiralty Direct-Action sign-off
- Rules-of-engagement file
9. References
- AE-SOP-0312 — Covert Sampling & Chain of Custody
- AE-SOP-0320 — Driftnet Interdiction & Gear Recovery
- AE-MET-017 — Targets Tracked
- AE-MET-016 — Tier Escalations
10. Revision History
| Rev | Date | Author | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A–C | 2085–2087 | Intelligence & Dispatch | Initial issue; four-tier model and two-source opening rule established. |
| D | 2089-06-30 | Intelligence & Dispatch | Added explicit escalation criteria and mandatory de-escalation. |
| E | 2090-01-18 | Intelligence & Dispatch | Direct-Action Admiralty sign-off and rules-of-engagement requirement formalised. |