In the United Kingdom, Devon & Cornwall and Dorset Police have become the first police forces in the country to launch a fully operational drone unit.

The UAS will be used for a variety of missions, including searching for missing people, responding to major road traffic collisions, and combatting wildlife crime.

According to Chief Superintendent Jim Nye, Commander for the Alliance Operations Department, there are currently five officers trained to use UAS across both forces.

The plan is for an additional 40 officers to complete their Civil Aviation (CAA) training over the next 12 months, so that they can be fully accredited, which will allow them to operate the UAS.

“It is fantastic to see both forces working together to lead the way in utilizing new, cutting-edge technology,” says Drone Team Manager Andy Hamilton.

“Having previously been a police officer for 30 years, I have seen how technology has changed and can help us become more efficient in what we are trying to achieve.”

Hamilton continues by explaining that in the past, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter was used to capture aerial photos or videos, which wasn’t always the best use of resources according to Hamilton.

Instead of having to always use helicopters for these tasks, now, UAS can be used to capture the same photos or videos, which avoids the need to send a helicopter on an hour’s flight just to take a few photos.

Hamilton adds that UAS can be used to complement the NPAS, as they can free up the helicopters so that the helicopters can be available for “more serious incidents across the South West.”

The DJI Inspire UAS is currently being used by the Drone Unit. The Inspire UAS is equipped with a zoom camera and thermal imaging, which allows for operational use 24 hours a day.

The Drone Unit has also purchased a smaller DJI Mavic, to “test its portability as it is smaller and lighter in weight.”

For Nye, launching this unit is a major accomplishment that could potentially have a long-lasting impact for police forces throughout the United Kingdom.

“This is an historic step for the Alliance and policing in the UK; Drone capability is a cutting edge way to support operational policing across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset,” Nye says. 

“Being the first police forces in the country to have a stand-alone, fully operational drone unit is a great source of pride for the Alliance, and proves that we continue to work hard to find innovative ways to adapt to the ever-changing policing landscape.”