Editing Force Research Unit (section)

== Covert agent handling ==
[[Agent handling]] by the FRU was primarily carried out via face-to-face meetings on a near weekly basis. Telephone contacts were discouraged, unless an urgent matter arose, as an agent could be overheard by family member's while using their [[Landline|house phone]] and the frequent use of [[phone boxes]] would raise suspicion.<ref name="NelsonTrialTranscript"/>  

Face-to-face meetings were tape-recorded and then transcribed on a Contact Form,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/131068753/Nelson-CF|title=FRU Contact Form - 14 February 1989 - Brian Nelson |work=Force Research Unit }}</ref> after which the contents of the [[Tape cartridge|audio tape]] was erased. A copy of the Contact Form would be sent to FRU headquarters in Lisburn, who would then share any relative information with the RUC. A typical Contact Form consisted of the following sections:<ref name="1999 British Irish Rights Watch">{{cite web|url=https://www.rightsandsecurity.org/assets/cv_uploads/1999_-_Deadly_Intelligence_Report_(to_the_British_and_Irish_governments__and_to_the_UN).pdf|title=1999 British Irish Rights Watch report into FRU collusion with Loyalist paramilitaries |work=British Irish Rights Watch }}</ref>

{{Table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable col1left"
!CF1
|details of FRU handlers, the meeting places, routes to and from the meeting, vehicles used, etc ...
|-
!CF2 
|summary of agent's events and activities since the last meeting, plus details of any intelligence of use to the security forces
|-
!''BACKGROUND'' 
|the reason for the meeting being called 
|-
!''FINANCE'' 
|details of payments to the agent and any other associated financial matters
|-
!''WELFARE'' 
|matters relating to the agent's personal welfare 
|-
!''SECURITY'' 
|the agent's personal security at that time and that of the meeting
|-
!''MOTIVATION'' 
|the agent's motivation for providing any new information
|-
!''CASE DEVELOPMENT'' 
| how FRU intended to develop the agent or particular aspects of his role
|-
!''ACCESS'' 
| the agent's access to sources of information
|-
!''TASKING'' 
| the new batch of tasks set for the agent by FRU
|-
!''CF3'' 
| details of debriefing of the agent by their handier (i.e.) advice on how to perform their role more effectively, instructions on what to do before the next meeting, etc.
|-
|}