Plans To Acquire Up To 50 Drones Over The Next 12 Months

Victoria Police in Australia will soon take to the skies with the establishment of the first ever Drone Unit. The new unit will provide Victoria Police with the capability to use drones in a range of operational duties across the state.

Police Air Wing will be the central point for the organisation’s drone services, and will manage the drones and also provide the training to other units.

The Drone Unit will aim to progressively train officers from specialist units such as Operations Response Unit and Search and Rescue, along with regional officers to provide their own localized basic drone services.

Inspector Craig Shepherd said the addition of mobile eyes in the sky would be a boost to the capability of police across the state.

“The introduction of this unit is expected to enhance the work our police do every day, from attending crime scenes, managing emergency situations, public order management, search and rescue and situational awareness,” Inspector Shepherd said.

“The drones we plan to use will have a 24/7 ability, with high end technology allowing for both day and night camera vision. We will also be upskilling police across the state to ensure they have their own localised drone service.

“It will also assist when police attend emergency situations with the ability to fly a drone in to provide advice to someone in a tricky situation or supply first aid equipment or water,” he said.

Victoria Police aims to acquire up to 50 drones over the next 12 months to be used by the new Drone Unit as well as specialist areas and regional officers.

It’s expected the Drone Unit will be fully established by the end of August 2019.

(Source: Victoria Police news release)

FMI: www.police.vic.gov.au