Drones are transforming the way that police operate.
Drones have become a force multiplier for police, providing unprecedented views of a scene or incident - helping to fight crime, plan an effective response, and keep officers safe.
Police drone technology has exploded in recent years, with many forces using funds from the Proceeds of Crime Act - cash raised from criminals seized assets - to equip their officers with the latest technology and training.
Police are deploying drones and sophisticated payloads - including zoom and thermal cameras - for a range of missions, including search and rescue, crime-scene investigation, crowd control, evidence-gathering, and accident reconstruction.
The biggest advantage of drones in policing is the ability to go where officers cannot. From hazmat calls, surveying damage from natural disasters, and responding to bomb threats, the technology is fundamentally changing how police departments respond to a wide range of incidents and help keep the public safe.
For police forces, deploying a drone is a quicker and more cost-effective solution than sending out a police helicopter.
Drones also have the advantage that they are quieter, making them better placed during covert operations, while their ability to fly lower to the ground is useful in times of cloud cover.
For example, Kent Police says that by using a drone instead of a helicopter in appropriate circumstances, they will save a significant amount of money. The Force adds that a drone allows the police helicopter to be used for more serious incidents, whilst still achieving aerial assistance to officers on the ground. Kent Police says that using the drone helps speed-up tasks and save time, for example when searching for a missing person.
Meanwhile, Dorset Police believes the success of its own drone unit may have resulted in savings estimated at £170,000, according to a report in the Bournemouth Echo. The article added that each drone deployment cost at least one-third less than using the National Police Air Service helicopter. For balance, the article does say that the Force is paying fixed fees for the shared helicopter and additional fees each time it is used.
Drones may not replace helicopters in all circumstances, but they are certainly a vital tool for police forces, especially in times of budget cuts.
Lincolnshire Police has a thriving drone department. Sergeant Ed Delderfield said: "Drones provide a more flexible and cost-effective air asset compared with the NPAS helicopter alternative. As technology and legislation advances, I can see unmanned aircraft taking over. However, the manned helicopter still provides a unique capability and we are a long way off being able to operate without them."
New powers to tackle misuse of unmanned aircraft.
Drones are transforming the world of work and public safety - but there are times when unmanned aircraft fall into the wrong hands and can be used in potentially dangerous ways.
As a result, police are able to identify illegal and unregistered drones that may be hazardous to the surrounding environment to keep their communities safe.
Police in the UK, for example, are to receive new powers to tackle the misuse of drones, including landing, inspecting and seizing drones if an offence has been committed and a warrant is secured.
The legislation is contained in the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill, which had its second reading in Parliament in January 2020.
In 2019, the drone detection technology DJI AeroScope - supplied by HELIGUY.com™ - was used to trace and seize drones being flown illegally during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone.
Different drones provide different operational capabilities.
DJI drones have become the go-to tool for many police forces, providing the necessary features to respond appropriately to emergency situations.
According to the third edition of the Public Safety Drones report, compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone At Bard College, DJI drones were the most popular among public safety teams (see graph, right).
And there’s a good reason for this. DJI technology offers a reliable, versatile and an out-of-the-box solution for public safety agencies, all at an affordable price – especially compared to other enterprise drones on the market.
Number of agencies in the US Emergency Services who use DJI drones, compared to other manufacturers. The results relate to agencies involved in the Public Safety Drones survey by The Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
You can't always predict when an incident will happen, and sometimes police forces will need to deploy drones in the wind and the rain.
DJI drones, such as the M300 RTK and M200 Series V2, offer a robust solution to enable officers to fly in difficult conditions.
The DJI M300 RTK has an IP45 rating. While this is not a complete waterproofing, it does mean that the drone is protected against low pressure jets of water (or splashing water) from any angle. In fact, DJI has stated that the M300 RTK can withstand 100mm of rain during a 24-hour period.
The DJI M300 RTK also has a wind resistance of 15m/s and can operate in temperatures from -20°C to 50°C, making it a safe and effective platform in a variety of challenging environments. .
The DJI M200 Series V2 has an IP43 rating (protected against sprays of water up to 60° from the vertical) and DJI says that it can operate in light rain (less than 10mm a day).
The DJI M200 Series V2 has a maximum wind-speed resistance of 12m/s, and can operate in temperatures from -20°C to 50°C.
After flying your drone in inclement weather, it is important that you take the time to wipe it down and dry it off and store it correctly.
Public perception is key.
Improved situational awareness, faster deployment, and enhanced safety - there's no doubt that drones have become a useful addition to police forces. Despite this, the police's use of drones is still met with a wave of scepticism and concern from certain sections of society - with some people conjuring up pictures of an Orwellian state.
With this in mind, some police forces can be hesitant to start a drone programme. But it can be done. After all, police forces around the world are utilising drones.
One of the most important pieces of advice is to be open and transparent, especially with the public, to try to allay any concerns, particularly around thorny subjects like surveillance. Sometimes, decision-makers within your own department can be hesitant to start off with, but are then convinced once they see the power of the technology.
For instance, New York Fire Battalion Chief Anthony Pascocello admits there was resistance to adding drones to the department, but using an unmanned aircraft for the first time was an 'earth-shattering moment'. He adds: "It was the first time that the incident commander had real-time information from the roof and he could actually see what the sector was reporting back to him. Once he saw what the drone could do, he was sold on it.”
To help you get started, here are some top tips to enable you to move towards starting or scaling a public safety drone operation.
"Don't Reinvent The Wheel" - Romeo Durscher, DJI's Senior Director of Public Safety Integration, Shares His Tips
When it comes to police drone programmes, transparency is key, and this is evident when looking at the website of numerous UK police forces which are utilising the technology.
A number of forces have gone to great lengths to highlight their use of UAVs, including their intentions, how much their drones cost, and who pilots the aircraft.
Here are some examples from some of the websites.
West Midlands Police says that it is using drones as a tactic to target criminals and help keep the public safe. The Force says that its drones - which cost between £2,000 and £10,000 - will be used to help give officers a mobile eye in the sky, helping to scan large areas quickly, and they will be deployed in crime hot spots, following serious incidents, and at pre-planned operations.
The Force also answers the question of whether or not the drones are being used to spy on the general public. The Force's answer is: "Absolutely not. Drones are only being used as an extra resource to target criminals operating in public places. It’s a mobile equivalent to CCTV. Strict legislation governs the use of drones – including their use by the police. All of the data is encrypted for security."
Lancashire Police carries similar information on its website, answering questions such as which cameras their drones carry and how their pilots have been trained. The Force says the police has to comply with existing legislation and regulation in respect of drone use.
Lancashire Police also details its use of drones, saying UAVs are deployed to enable an effective use of resources, improve the safety of the public and the police, provide good quality evidence to assist apprehension and prosecution of offenders, and enhance joint working with other emergency services and external partner agencies.
A detailed breakdown on drone use can be found on North Wales Police's website. The Force promotes its use of drones by highlighting the various use cases, their image capabilities, and the ambition to add further drones to its ranks.
.The page makes specific reference to the fact that the drones won't be used for general public surveillance, and adds that the police drone will only record data (stills or video) if there is a policing purpose to it.
Comprehensive supply and support for law enforcement teams.
As one of the world's leading drone suppliers, HELIGUY.com™ has established a track record of delivering dedicated operational support to police forces.
We are entrusted by more than 30 of the UK's emergency services, helping to bolster their UAV programmes and supporting them every step of the way.
As a true one-stop-shop, HELIGUY.com™ offers comprehensive cover to all aspects of a police drone division, including access to free expert consultancy and advice; technical support from our in-house DJI-approved team of technicians; dedicated police drone training; staging demonstration events and roadshows; and attending handover days, enabling officers to unlock the true potential of their aircraft.
HELIGUY.com™ is a trusted DJI Partner and has a vast inventory of drones and sensors to help support the work of police forces across the world. With more than a decade of experience, HELIGUY.com™ has established a portfolio of contacts to provide access to a wealth of industry-leading solutions, such as Elistair's Drone Tethers and Excelerate Technology's UAV Streamer.
Allowing forces to dynamically and flexibly scale their fleets, HELIGUY.com™ offers a range of supply options, including 0% finance purchasing and a large pool of rental stock.
With warehouse facilities in Dallas, Texas, USA, and the United Kingdom, HELIGUY.com™ is able to supply drone pilots and support police drone programmes around the world.
HELIGUY.com™'s expert training team runs industry-leading drone training for commercial drone pilots, including the GVC course to enable pilots to access Standard Permissions.
HELIGUY.com™ also runs dedicated ES-DOT training courses for the emergency services.
These tailored sessions give pilots the confidence to succeed while on operations. Click here to find out more about our ES-DOT courses.
Our ES-DOT training courses have enabled officers to deploy quickly and effectively. Derbyshire Constabulary's first female drone pilot was trained by HELIGUY.com™ - read the full story here - while two officers deployed less than 48 hours after completing HELIGUY.com™’s ES-DOT Course – filling a vital gap in operational capability. Read the full story by clicking here.
HELIGUY.com™ also holds CPD (Continuing Professional Development) training courses for the emergency services. CPD is widely regarded as a mandatory activity in the continuation of any professional enterprise, helping to maintain an optimal level of safety and service provision.
The HELIGUY.com™ CPD-accredited training package is essential for drone pilots in the emergency services, ensuring they are flying to a high standard and in strict accordance with the rules and regulations.
Book a meeting to discuss your projects requirements, schedule product demonstrations and get your questions answered.
heliguy™ has a dedicated drone support vehicle designed, developed and manufactured in partnership with Venari - Britain’s largest and most established manufacturer of ambulances and emergency services support vehicles.
The rugged 4x4 is specifically designed for enterprise drone operations, and was designed and built by Venari’s Specialist Vehicle Operations team, to facilitate streamlined and efficient drone deployment.
The vehicle features a ready-to-fly mechanism - enabling on-board aircraft to remain fully-assembled and ready for immediate deployment; a DJI AeroScope RF Drone Detection unit; temperature-controlled battery charging area; a real-time weather station; and a 43-inch QLED screen with integrated Command and Control Unit interface.
The Drone Support Vehicle is 4G/5G enabled, is capable of unlimited run times thanks to its onboard generator, features dark-mode interior and exterior lighting for night ops, and is adaptable and future-proof thanks to its modular design.
It can cater to an array of drone platforms and is D-RTK base station compatible.
