{"id":15101,"date":"2017-07-14T16:57:15","date_gmt":"2017-07-14T16:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdpair.com\/police-drone-unit-is-first-in-uk\/"},"modified":"2017-07-14T16:57:15","modified_gmt":"2017-07-14T16:57:15","slug":"police-drone-unit-is-first-in-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mdpair.com\/?p=15101","title":{"rendered":"Police drone unit is first in UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

First UK police drone unit launched in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset <\/p>\n

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Media captionFirst police drone unit launched in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first dedicated police drone unit in the UK has been launched.<\/p>\n

Devon and Cornwall Police began testing the drones with Dorset Police in 2015, but have now established a permanent unit with three full-time staff.<\/p>\n

It is hoped the drones could be used to track suspects in firearm incidents as well as in counter-terrorism operations.<\/p>\n

The unit's six drones have already been used to find missing people and gather evidence to secure court convictions.<\/p>\n

Image caption Some of the drones are fitted with thermal imaging cameras <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is aiming to have 40 officers complete their Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) drone training and up to 18 drones in operation by the start of 2018.<\/p>\n

Some of the drones have a police livery and are equipped with zoom cameras and thermal imaging.<\/p>\n

As well as crime scene and road searches, the drones will help scour the forces' 600 miles (900km) of coastline and extensive woodlands to help combat wildlife crime.<\/p>\n

Drones have been trialled by other police forces, including Merseyside, Gwent and Kent for various uses including monitoring drug raids<\/a> and searching for missing people<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ch Supt Jim Nye, who leads the new unit, hopes the team will be able to shape how other forces used drone technology in the future. <\/p>\n

"The helicopter isn't always available and you want to have it available for life-threatening situations," he said. <\/p>\n

"I think the public would expect that if we can get value for money with a drone over a helicopter, that we do so."<\/p>\n

Rules on flying drones<\/h2>\n
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Media captionDrones should be flown no higher than 400ft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In November 2016, the UK's drone code was revised and updated to help pilots ensure they fly the gadgets safely. It is:<\/p>\n