Abstract: A motion detection apparatus indicates the presence of an object in a given area by sensing the change in electrostatic charge in the area caused by the disturbance of the electric field within the range of the apparatus. An antenna, which may take a number of different forms, is placed at a convenient location within the area to be monitored, and the output of the antenna is connected in a shielded manner to the input of a shielded high gain amplifier with a very high impedance-low leakage current input stage and which has a filter connected thereto having a cut off frequency of up to approximately 20Hz. Connected to the output of the amplifier is a circuit, which may include a power line frequency filter, which produces an output signal, for example, an alarm, whenever the amplitude of the output signal from the amplifier exceeds a predetermined value.