Gloucestershire Police using drones to stop illegal e-bikes

• Gloucestershire Police are using drones to safely track and seize illegal e-bikes;

• E-bikes reach up to 50 mph - can endanger pedestrians and are often linked to crime;

• DJI drones like the Mavic 3 Thermal, Matrice 30T, and Matrice 300 support operations, with the Matrice 4TD soon to join the fleet;

• Officers can now track illegal e-bike riders with drones and apprehend suspects at a safe location, away from members of the public and without the need for a high-speed car chase;

• “We see drones as a huge support to operational policing,” said Daniel Smith, Drone Unit Specialist Operations Department at Gloucestershire Police;

• Drones provide safer pursuits, stronger evidence gathering, and efficient suspect tracking;

• “Our top priorities are safety and efficiency. We need to apprehend suspects with as little risk to the public and our officers as possible, and to do so quickly,” said Edward Burn, Chief Inspector at Gloucestershire Police.

Gloucestershire Police are taking an innovative approach to tackling illegal e-bikes by integrating drones into operational policing.

This case study looks at why Gloucestershire Police turned to drones, how their workflow operates in the field, the results they have achieved so far, and their plans for the future of the programme.

Why Gloucestershire Police turned to drones

E-bikes pose a serious threat to communities, with a growing number of pedestrians suffering fatal injuries after being struck.

They are often ridden illegally on streets and public roads and are frequently linked to crimes such as vandalism and theft.

Capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 mph, these bikes are difficult to stop safely, and pursuing them by vehicle puts officers and nearby members of the public at risk.

Faced with tighter budgets and fewer officers, Gloucestershire Police needed a solution that was safe, efficient, and cost-effective.

Already experienced in using drones for search and rescue, the force saw their potential for tracking and monitoring illegal e-bike riders.

This led to the launch of the programme in July 2024, with drones providing the safe, accurate, and resource-efficient approach they were looking for.

Daniel Smith, Drone Unit Specialist Operations Department at Gloucestershire Police, said:

“Drones seemed like the logical solution to the apprehension of illegal e-bike riders.

With drones we can follow a rider until they reach a safe stopping point, where officers can then intercept.

This workflow keeps the subject, public and our officers safe by negating the need for pursuits.”

The footage the drone records not only aids the officers in the field to track the illegal rider, but it ensures that suspects are correctly identified - strengthening prosecutions.

Edward Burn, Chief Inspector at Gloucestershire Police said:

“With drones filming as they track the illegal bike riders, every offence is captured on camera.

This high-quality evidence gathering helps guarantee these offences are dealt with robustly.”

Drone operations and results

To ensure safe and effective operations, Gloucestershire Police undertook specialist drone training and developed a structured drone workflow for tackling illegal e-bikes.

Edward Burn, Chief Inspector at Gloucestershire Police, said:

“Our top priorities are safety and efficiency. We need to apprehend suspects with as little risk to the public and our officers as possible, and to do so quickly.

With drones we can respond faster, reduce risks to members of the public, and apprehend more illegal e-bikes in the process.”

The results of Gloucestershire Police’s drone programme have been striking.

In the early stages, the team apprehended a couple of bikes per day over six-to seven-hour shifts.

Since then, success rates have continued to rise, with a record 33 bikes caught in a single planned day of police action.

The drone fleet behind the operation

Gloucestershire Police operate a range of DJI Enterprise drones, including the Mavic 3 Thermal, Matrice 30T, and Matrice 300, with plans to expand their fleet with the Matrice 4TD.

The Mavic 3 Thermal and Matrice 30T both feature integrated thermal cameras, and they are the more portable options in the fleet.

Weighing under 1 kg, the Mavic 3 Thermal is highly compact, while the larger Matrice 30T features a foldable design for easy transport and quick deployment in the field.

The Matrice 300 is the most robust model, capable of carrying up to three payloads.

For low-light conditions, it can be paired with the H20N camera for night vision capability, while the H20T camera provides advanced thermal imaging.

The Matrice 4TD, soon to join the fleet, combines the best features of these aircraft into a single platform.

It’s equipped with a wide-angle camera, medium-tele camera, tele camera, laser rangefinder, NIR auxiliary light, and thermal sensor. It provides full-colour and black-and-white night vision.

Additionally, the Matrice 4TD is rated IP55 for reliable performance in demanding conditions.

The combination of these features will better support the teams in responding to scenes faster, tracking illegal e-bike riders with more accuracy and for longer periods of time.

Future of the drone programme

The long-term aim of the Gloucestershire Police is to establish a full-time drone team through a staged rollout.

Daniel Smith, Drone Unit Specialist Operations Department at Gloucestershire Police, said:

“We aim to build a full-time drone team, as we see the future of drones providing increased support to operational policing.”

The programme’s success has attracted interest from other departments and neighbouring forces, and Gloucestershire Police are keen to support others with establishing their own similar programmes.

Edward Burn, Chief Inspector at Gloucestershire Police said:

“The future is a standalone unit, where we can work alongside other departments, improve their performance, and deliver better outcomes for the community.

Drones are enabling us to achieve faster results, and our top priorities are safety and efficiency. By embracing this technology, we can better protect our communities.”

Summary

Gloucestershire Police have shown how drones can support operational policing by providing a safer, more efficient way to tackle crime.

With tighter budgets, drones offer a cost-effective solution that reduces risk, gathers high-quality evidence, and helps keep communities safe.

To learn more about how drones can support your operations and how to establish your own drone programme, get in touch with Heliguy today.