An initial evaluation of using remotely piloted aircraft – drones, in a word – has been carried out by the National Police Air Service (NPAS). The NPAS, which provides all police forces in England and Wales with air support, says it seeks to explore how this technology might be used to deliver public safety.
With joint funding from the Home Office, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the trial saw simulated typical police aviation scenarios as fulfilled by the national fleet of helicopters and aeroplanes in support of the 43 forces of England and Wales and British Transport Police (BTP). NPAS made use of the Elbit Systems Hermes 900 as part of a wider trial organised by the MCA.
With the trial at West Wales Airport near Aberporth now complete, a report will follow which will detail the capabilities offered by this class of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and its fit to national policing requirements.
Home Office Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said: “Our police confront danger to protect us and they deserve the best tools and the best technology. These trials may point to a new and more effective way for the police’s air service to do its vital job – finding missing people and bearing down on crime.”
Background
The 999 services communications body BAPCO at its 2020 show in Coventry in March just before lockdown heard a presentation (pictured) by Lincolnshire Police on their use of drones to cover the largely rural county, as featured in the April and June print editions of Professional Security.
Some of the reasons why police might look to drones: a smaller carbon footprint; and drones cost far less to use than a helicopter, and may be called up quicker, typically (from Lincolnshire’s experience) to hunt for a wanted suspect, especially after dark; or to search for a missing person in countryside or on a beach – which can be prohibitively difficult and time-consuming for officers on the ground to do as thoroughly as by a drone operator.
