Communications of the ACM
Police Drones Take to U.K. Skies
The U.K. National Police Air Service is evaluating how drone technology might complement its existing national fleet of helicopters and other aircraft.
Credit: Elbit Systems UK
U.K. police agencies are trying out the use of aerial drones to support ground-based forces in scenarios where helicopter or aircraft deployments may be less practical.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) launched initial trials at West Wales Airport using the Hermes 900 drone from Israel’s Elbit Systems.
The Hermes, which can fly at 140 miles per hour, also was used in recent trials by the U.K.'s Maritime and Coastguard Agency to assess drone applicability in search and rescue missions.
NPAS' Ollie Dismore said, "If this technology enables us to fulfill our national remit more efficiently and either as or more effectively than with our current assets, then it will be considered as part of a future national police air service fleet."
From ZDNet
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