This is not the first time Sussex and Surrey has experimented with drones. Drones near Gatwick Airport in West Sussex proved in some instances to be faster, safer, and cheaper than humans for perimeter patrols. The force now seeks to look into broader uses for the technology, to advise other divisions considering drone use, and to draw up a training scheme that could allow other officers to properly pilot drones.
The move comes as regulations for recreational drone use in the UK are tightening. A man in Liverpool was arrested earlier in March for filming Premier League football matches with a drone, and police are investigating an attempt to smuggle contraband into Bedford Prison using a UAV. But as police forces across the country are being pressured to cut costs, UAVs seem a likely route. But, as Engadget reports, until technology has progressed enough for drones to make arrests, they’re not likely to fully replace human forces in the near future.
