More and more UK police forces and government agencies are exploring the potential of unmanned drones for covert aerial surveillance, security or emergency operations across the UK, the Guardian has learned.
The UK Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA), which works closely with police forces and the UK Security Service (MI5), published an unusually detailed public tender notice in the summer requesting submissions from suppliers of airborne observation “platforms” that can be adapted for “target acquisition” and intelligence-gathering.
The proposal comes as the use of helicopter microdrones for law enforcement spreads. At least four forces — Merseyside, in the north west of England, Essex in the south east, Staffordshire in central England and British Transport police — have bought or used them.
Several government bodies, including the Environment Agency, have examined similar systems, while the fire services in the West Midlands of England and in South Wales launch them as miniature spotter planes above major blazes. Some are operated commercially for aerial photography.
Microdrones can be fitted with video cameras, thermal imaging devices, radiation detectors, mobile phone jammers and air sampling devices. Hovering at heights of around 60m, they are said by manufacturers to be virtually invisible from the ground.
This week the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued fresh advice about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance, warning that they must be licensed when flown within 50m of a person, property or structure.
“In the past we have seen people seriously injured or even killed by model aircraft,” the authority said, “and, now that small, unmanned aircraft are becoming more readily available and simpler to fly, we need to avoid any similar incidents.”
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