Drone as First Responder expands across UK Police Forces

• Drone as First Responder (DFR) is expanding rapidly across UK police forces under an NPCC-led national programme;

• Cleveland Police is the latest to implement DFR, using it to respond to 73 live incidents in 2026;

• West Midlands Police is operating remotely-piloted DFR drones in Coventry, controlled from Birmingham;

• Other DFR trials are happening across the UK;

• DFR enables drones to launch from docking stations in under 90 seconds, providing rapid aerial intelligence to frontline officers.

Drone as First Responder (DFR) is gathering pace across the UK, as police forces continue to adopt drone-in-a-box capability to transform live incident response.

Cleveland Police is the latest to implement DFR, as part of a national programme led and funded by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

Since the start of 2026, the Force has used DFR to deploy to 73 live incidents.

heliguy™ is a proud partner of UK blue light organisations - including DFR programmes - and can help Forces start and scale their operations with drone technology.

How DFR transforms policing

DFR programmes typically see drones stationed in weatherproof docking stations, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.

The strategically placed drones are launched remotely and can travel to the scene of an incident in as little as 90 seconds, quickly providing a live-time view of what’s happening so resources can be effectively deployed.

From the air, drone pilots can use the aircraft to:

• Follow or locate suspects and direct officers on the ground.

• Support reports of vulnerable missing people with rapid aerial search.

• Provide situational awareness for complex or dynamic incidents.

• Capture early imagery that can later support investigation or prosecution.

At the end of the task, the drone returns to its docking station and recharges, preparing for the next deployment.

DFR Cleveland Police

In Cleveland, DFR drones can be launched and remotely piloted from the Force’s control room, expanding its existing UAV capability.

DFR adds to Cleveland Police’s established drone operations, with its “business as usual” UAVs deploying 2,185 times in 2025.

“Drones have proven to be an invaluable asset for policing in Cleveland, and DFR will only add to this, by improving the effectiveness of our incident response and enhancing early evidence capture at the scene. As the first northern force to adopt DFR proactively, we hope to lead the way with this innovative technology in order to protect our communities and tackle criminals.”

— Temporary Chief Superintendent Martin Hopps, Head of Operations at Cleveland Police

West Midlands Police: Expanding DFR into Coventry

Coventry is the latest location to benefit from West Midlands Police’s DFR initiative, with two DFR drones currently on trial.

It is the latest phase in a five-year project which has already seen the technology operate from:

• Junction 9 of the M6 motorway in Walsall.

• University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire.

Over the past 12 months, West Midlands Police reports that remotely operated drones have:

• Saved hours of officer time.

• Improved safety.

• Helped officers make better decisions.

• Ensured the right organisation responds to the incident.

Examples of DFR impact from West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police has shared several examples of how DFR is delivering real operational value, including:

• Confirming that people reported as trespassing on the motorway were truck-spotters safely using a designated public viewing platform, preventing unnecessary lane closures and speed restrictions.

• Pinpointing the precise location of dangerous debris on the motorway, miles away from where it was reported, speeding up the recovery of the item by National Highways staff.

• Quickly confirming that a high-risk missing person was not in a huge field meaning officers on foot could search other locations.

• Tracking a teenager reported to have a gun and reporting his exact location to firearms officers, speeding up the interception.

• Tracking a man who had reportedly strangled a woman, leading to his arrest and charge with strangulation, assault, making threats to kill and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour.

"Drone First Responders is a hugely exciting innovation related to the very latest capability around police use of drones. We’ve got two operating in Coventry – because it’s a ‘drone ready city’ and they are amazing at getting quickly to the scenes of incidents that we need to understand what's happening, gather evidence and keep the public safe."

— Assistant Chief Constable Matt Welsted, from the Force Executive team

WMP currently has 15 drones and 20 dedicated pilots. Our 24/7 Drones unit was formed in April 2023, although the force started using drones in 2017.

heliguy™ support

At heliguy™, we are proud to support UK policing with industry-leading hardware, training, and consultancy, helping agencies build resilient drone programmes - including DFR initiatives - that meet real-world challenges.

From Dock-based solutions to BVLOS training and regulatory support, heliguy™ remains committed to empowering frontline services with tools that deliver safety, insight, and speed — when every second counts.

heliguy™ supplies, supports, and trains blue light organisations throughout the UK, including DFR projects. To find out how we can help your Force start and scale drone technology, contact us.

As DFR continues to expand under the NPCC programme, more UK forces are expected to adopt drone-in-a-box operations to improve response times, safety and evidence capture.