The British Metropolitan Police announced the start of a new experiment in the Islington area, in which it will use remotely launched drones to support its response to emergency incidents, by providing officers with real-time information whether in the operations room or in the field.
The goal: support operations, not surveillance
Despite previous criticism from civil liberties organizations that described the use of drones as “troubling,” Assistant Commissioner Lawrence Taylor, the national responsible for the drone program, stressed that the goal is not surveillance but to support police operations on the ground. He explained that any video clips that are not used as evidence will be deleted after 28 days, noting that the plan includes expanding the project to include the West End and Hyde Park areas before the end of the year.
A faster and more economical alternative to helicopters
The police explained that the new aircraft are faster, quieter, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly compared to helicopters, while achieving the same operational results. They stressed that these aircraft will only be used in responding to emergency calls (999), and will be operated remotely by trained operators from the control room.
Arrive in just 2 minutes
The aircraft arrives at the accident site in approximately two minutes, and immediately begins broadcasting live footage to help officers make quick decisions. It will be used for multiple tasks, including searching for missing persons, pursuing suspects, and documenting evidence at accident sites.
“Drone as first responder”
Taylor said the “First Responder Drone” program would help track suspects, locate missing persons and provide officers with information as they respond to calls from Londoners. He added: “We are building the Metropolitan Police more accurate and efficient than ever before, and this technology gives us a vital new tool to combat crime in the capital.”
Technical mechanism: self-starting and automatic charging
The aircraft are stored on the rooftops of specific police buildings inside fortified weatherproof boxes, where they remain in charging mode awaiting orders. Once called, the aircraft takes off automatically, transmitting live footage to the operations room or to officers in the field. When the mission is completed, it returns to its base and the box is closed to be recharged in preparation for the next mission.
