The United Kingdom has a long history of surveillance and is said to have more societal and military security observation activity per capita than any other European country. The UK uses surveillance as a means of observing what its citizens are doing and thinking, monitoring and counteracting illegal and terrorist activity, and as a mechanism of strategic military intelligence, such as eavesdropping on the rest of the world.  In 2016, it introduced a controversial law, the Investigatory Powers Act, which makes provision for both targeted and bulk retention of content and metadata.  This is claimed to be Security Control that is unrivaled by any other country in Western Europe, with London reportedly being one of the most-security-watched cities in the world.  

The Military of Defense communications systems of Royal Air Force Troödos Cyprus and Menwith Hill Yorkshire are extensive military surveillance stations that play a pivital role in intelligence-gathering, satellite communications and monitoring.  Important also to the UK in zones of conflict and war are Sangers or Watchtowers.  These were used extensively in Afghanistan and in Northern Ireland, where the most infamous military watchtower, called Borucki Sanger, was positioned in the centre of the village of Crossmaglen, an omnipresent reminder of British Military power, and what some might say, repression.  The purpose, it is believed, was to intimidate and control those who would oppose the military presence and to monitor and counteract Paramilitary activity in the area.