The Metropolitan Police have launched a new trial that will see drones sent to emergency incidents across London in a move designed to improve response times and keep people safe.
Known as the Drone as First Responder (DFR) programme, the technology allows drones to be launched remotely from the Met’s control room to provide real-time footage to officers heading to incidents. The aim is to help officers make quicker, more informed decisions when responding to 999 calls.
The drones will be piloted by specially trained operators and can reach a scene within two minutes, sending back high-quality imagery to officers both in the control room and on the ground.
They will be used in a variety of situations, including searching for missing people, tracing suspects and gathering evidence at the scene of incidents. The Met says the technology will help officers catch criminals faster and prevent further harm to communities.
The new drones are described as quieter, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than helicopters, while still offering similar operational benefits. If the trial proves successful, the Met hopes to expand the programme to more parts of London.
The pilot has launched in Islington, with plans to introduce it in two more areas, the West End and Hyde Park, before the end of the year.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the national lead for drones, said: “Our Drone as First Responder programme will see police resources arriving at crime scenes across London quicker. They will assist in tracing trace suspects, locate locating missing people and delivering intelligence to our officers as they respond to Londoners when they need us most.
“We are building a Met that is more precise and efficient than ever before, and this new technology gives us a vital new tool to tackle crime in the capital.”
Superintendent Taryn Evans, who leads the NPCC Drones Programme and the pilot for the Met, added: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring the many benefits and efficiencies of the Drone as First Responder programme to London, supporting both officer and community safety.
“We’ve been running trials of the programme in several different police forces with a range of operating environments from urban to rural and the technology has proven a gamechanger in many incidents.
“This pilot with the Met brings together our two years of learning and development and I look forward to seeing how it can enhance the operational response.”
The drones are kept in weather-proof boxes on the roofs of selected police buildings, ready to launch when needed. When deployed, they transmit live footage directly to control rooms to help tailor emergency responses. After each mission, they return automatically to recharge for the next call-out.
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