NSW town launches trial of police surveillance drones

As reported in the Moree Online News, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said the drones will help “manage crime and reduce fear across the community”.

“The idea behind this system is that it gives us that eye in the sky and also reduces risk to our police. If something happens and we need to track someone, we’ll have that ability from the sky,” he said.

“Police can zoom in, see what the situation is, and assess which emergency management responses will be needed.

“We can also use a drone if there’s a report of a serious motor vehicle collision near town. Similarly, we can use drones for search and rescue.

According to Holland, the trial will be extended to other locations in NSW if successful.

“The word ‘trial’ is there for a reason. If there are concerns or issues that need to be raised from a local level, we will address them,” he said.

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“We want to make sure the community is well aware of what is involved, what it entails, when it will be used and how it will be used. I truly believe this is the next step in policing.”

Moree Plains Shire Council has welcomed the trial, with mayor Cr Susannah Pearse saying the town has a break-and-enter rate nine times the state average.

“Late last year we explained to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon that we are not comfortable with that statistic. Turning around this long-term trend will take a range of initiatives and this is just one. But it is one that we strongly welcome,” she said.

“Whilst there may be some concerns about this increased surveillance, we need to balance this with the very real impact violent crime has on its victims.

“If this trial stops even one violent break and enter or makes offenders think twice, then that’s a win.”

Superintendent Chris Nicholson from NSW Police Aviation Command acknowledged privacy concerns, but said the “number one priority” for operators would be aviation ahead of policing, and that they will “follow the rules very, very strictly”.

“If we break those rules we run the risk of losing our ReOC – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator’s Certificate – with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and that is something we would never do,” he said.

“We are not in the business of spying in people’s backyards or looking at people over their fences. The drones will do exactly what we already do in our fixed wing aircraft when providing aerial surveillance over Moree,” he said.

“We put about 45 to 50 hours of flying per year with fixed-wing aircraft over Moree per already. My crew spends about 13 to 15 days of the year around the area, so it’s quite an expensive exercise bringing an aeroplane from Bankstown to here.

“By having these drones in Moree and working from Bankstown, we estimate we can be here for 300 to 500 hours of aerial coverage over the town without even trying.”

The drones will be housed in weatherproof charging docks on the roof of Moree Police Station.