AS DANIEL JONES walked through Circular Quay and towards the ferry terminal 12 nights ago, someone called his name. Mr Jones, an outspoken 20-year-old student activist, turned to face a man he had never met. Smiling and wearing a blue bomber jacket, the man introduced himself simply as Ahmed.

Ahmed, with a beard and receding dark hair, said he was from intelligence at NSW Police and had an offer to make. He wanted the student to spy on his fellow activists before the APEC meeting in September. In return Ahmed implied he could help "make arrangements" about charges Mr Jones faces over his part in last year's G20 protests in Melbourne.

The approach is the latest example of action taken by the authorities to monitor and