Cumbria Police to use UAVs
Police in the county of Cumbria, UK, are now able to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for missions including missing person searches.
Police in the county of Cumbria, UK, are now able to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for missions including missing person searches.
Cumbria Constabulary has reported that earlier this year, staff from the Operational Support Unit purchased two UAVs in order to assess the benefits of using them as an operational resource. Testing has been completed and the aircraft have already been used in a number of missing person searches ‘to great effect’, said the force.
The UAVs, which cost £2,300 each, will provide live video footage to officers. One officer will control the aircraft from the ground, in line of sight, using a portable console from up to 500 m (1,650 ft) away. The police force said that the equipment will be used in line with the current Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations.
Chief Inspector Matt Kennerley, from the Operational Support Unit, said: “The benefit of using UAVs to assist police operations has already been proven in other police force areas, and we believe this is going to be an innovative and cost-effective resource that will enable officers to save lives and tackle criminal activity.” He continued: “Previously, the only way officers in Cumbria could gain aerial assistance was to call out a police helicopter from the National Police Air Service. This would not only be a costly resource for the force, but it can also be time-consuming. The use of the UAVs however provides a solution to this problem.”
The UAVs will only be deployed when required, said Kennerley, and will not replace patrols.