A hand-held surveillance apparatus comprising; a retractable support member , the member in the form of a cambered tape having a first end and a second end; a housing ; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing comprising a spring bias to retract the support member, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being: operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing; an articulated mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; a surveillance device attached to the articulated mount for receiving environmental signals; a human interface at the housing; a selectively applicable brake for locking the retractable support member in position when a desired amount of retractable support member has been converted into an extended condition; and, an electrical connection operably connecting the surveillance device to the human interface, the electrical connection comprising an electrical rotary joint between the housing and the spooling mechanism, such that the surveillance device may be supported, remote from the human interface by paying out the retractable support member. a retractable support member , the member in the form of a cambered tape having a first end and a second end; a housing ; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing comprising a spring bias to retract the support member, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being: operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing; operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing; an articulated mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; a surveillance device attached to the articulated mount for receiving environmental signals; a human interface at the housing; a selectively applicable brake for locking the retractable support member in position when a desired amount of retractable support member has been converted into an extended condition; and, an electrical connection operably connecting the surveillance device to the human interface, the electrical connection comprising an electrical rotary joint between the housing and the spooling mechanism, <EOS>