A hand held surveillance device comprising : - a retractable support member ; the retractable support member comprising; an upper section and lower section , wherein at least one of the upper or lower sections are constructed from at least one deformable material, wherein at least one of the upper or lower sections is cambered, wherein upper and lower sections are arranged to form a substantially rigid cavity throughout their length, and are retained by a retaining means ; wherein said retaining means comprises a flexible sheath , which envelopes the outside of the upper section and lower sections thereby securing said sections to form said retractable support member; said retractable support member comprises a first end and a second end; a housing ; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, 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 spooled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the retractable support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the spooled condition and thereby retract the retractable support member into the housing, wherein coiling the retractable support member forces the deformable material to deform causing the upper section and lower section together to become substantially flat as it is spooled. a retractable support member ; the retractable support member comprising; an upper section and lower section , wherein at least one of the upper or lower sections are constructed from at least one deformable material, wherein at least one of the upper or lower sections is cambered, wherein upper and lower sections are arranged to form a substantially rigid cavity throughout their length, and are retained by a retaining means ; wherein said retaining means comprises a flexible sheath , which envelopes the outside of the upper section and lower sections thereby securing said sections to form said retractable support member; said retractable support member comprises a first end and a second end; a housing ; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, 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 spooled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the retractable support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the spooled condition and thereby retract the retractable support member into the housing, wherein coiling the retractable support member forces the deformable material to deform causing the upper section and lower section together to become substantially flat as it is spooled. operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a spooled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the retractable support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the spooled condition and thereby retract the retractable support member into the housing, wherein coiling the retractable support member forces the deformable material to deform causing the upper section and lower section together to become substantially flat as it is spooled. <EOS>