West Midlands Police drone team praised for vital work tackling crime

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster, joined officers in Birmingham to witness the high-spec mini aircrafts in use and to see their significance in helping teams on the ground.

After starting out with just one designated drone officer in 2017, West Midlands Police is now the only force in the entire country to have a 24/7, standalone Drone Unit consisting of 24 pilots, as well as a sergeant and an inspector.

From locating missing people, traffic pursuits, violent disorders, arrest warrants and the use of thermal cameras, the force’s Drone Unit has fast become an invaluable asset to help prevent and tackle crime, bring offenders to justice and safeguard victims of crime and vulnerable people.

In recent weeks, the Drone Unit has located multiple burglary suspects attempting to hide using thermal imagery, while officers also responded to reports of a firearm being switched between vehicles following a collision before making an arrest.

Elsewhere, officers continue to work with response teams and the force’s Dog Unit to track down offenders attempting to evade capture, while help is also at hand to locate people in distress.

The maximum height a drone can operate remains 400ft compared to National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopters’ 600ft.

Drones, though, which can cost between £3,000 and £30,000 depending on specification, are much more discreet, cost effective and versatile as officers can control drones from 500 metres away.

Recently, the PCC joined the Drones Unit to locate a rape suspect before checking in on a team operating a high-spec DJI Matrice 30T prior to Aston Villa’s Champions League encounter with Bologna.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: “It was fascinating to join the Drones Unit to see for myself the vital impact of drones within operational policing.

“From locating missing and vulnerable people to responding to burglaries, warrant executions and crowd control at big events like football matches, I’ve witnessed first-hand the real importance of drone use as officers operate in the sky to prevent and tackle crime, bring offenders to justice and safeguard victims of crime and vulnerable people

“The fact that West Midlands Police is the only force in the country to have a 24/7, standalone drones team tells you that we, as a region, are leading the way in this developing, innovative and important area of policing

.“Drones can be deployed within seconds and the technology West Midlands Police has at its disposal can provide crystal-clear evidence to help with investigations to bring offenders to justice.

“One thing is for certain; drone technology will play an increasingly important part in policing in the West Midlands.”

Inspector Mark Colwell, who oversees the force’s designated Drones department, said: “Drones within West Midlands Police have grown to be the ‘go to’ resource to help find the lost, prevent and detect crime and provide live situational awareness to commanders and front-line officers alike.

“I am tremendously proud of our Drone Team and the individual pilots that make it such a success 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“There is a bright and interesting future for drones within this force; we are pioneering the use of these aircraft over extended distances, reaching incidents within minutes to enable effective resourcing and operational decision making.”