5. Gathering information on protests 5.1. Information gathered about the protest will provide insights into crowd management measures to be deployed that require the coordination of the police and the tri-forces. Discussions should be held as far as possible with police stations having jurisdiction in the areas associated with the protest to determine their ability to respond. 5.2. The Commission recommends that mobile officers (e.g., mounted on motorcycles or travelling by foot) highly trained in the lawful exercise of surveillance tactics should be stationed at protest sites in order to, 5.2.1. continually assess the situation and update information regarding the status of the crowd, 5.2.2. determine any additional personnel or other resources that may be required to control the crowd; and 5.2.3. communicate their findings to the commanding officers of the police and tri-forces so that they may determine the best course of action, on the most recent information available. 6. Deciding upon Specific Tactical Options 6.1. Commanders of the police and the armed forces have a broad spectrum of options to choose from when deciding upon the measures of crowd control to be taken at a protest site. Because of the changeable and unpredictable nature of protests, it is understandable that a rigid plan cannot be formulated on the measures of crowd control to be employed at the protest site. Therefore, commanders are advised to employ a flexible approach depending on the circumstances, and availability of resources and personnel. 6.2. However, in deciding upon using one tactical option, or multiple tactical options at the same or different times, the Commission recommends that the following considerations should be taken into account: 6.2.1. The aim behind using the specific tactical option 6.2.2. Indicators to measure the success of the tactical option 35