Ruaraidh Gilmour | Editing Team
In recent weeks there has been much debate as to whether or not to arm the police with drones. It’s an interesting topic to say the least, as drones are at the stage where even film directors are using them to capture camera shots from high vantage points and remote areas.
Last week, I was wakened by a helicopter hovering nearby my house after a women was assaulted in the Stewartfield area of East Kilbride. It was annoying to be abruptly wakened to the sounds of harsh chopping winds and irritating buzzing. The following day I watched a video of an amateur film director exhibiting how to use a remote control drone to capture amazing 4K images. The drone charge lasted up to 12 hours. It made me question if the police used remote control drones to survey areas of suspicion rather than helicopters.
Helicopters are the most expensive single item bought by the police force to date. An hours flight will cost over 150 pounds; some police helicopters can stay in the sky for up to 4 hours meaning the yearly cost to maintain flight alone costs tens of thousands of pounds. Repairs to the engine, rotors and key integral parts of the helicopter must be constantly checked and maintained to allow for a safe flight, which only adds to the vast expenses accumulated annually by police helicopters.
Helicopter drones, for as long as I can remember, have been seen as toy, a Christmas present. However, that was when they were single motored, fitted with inaccurate transmitters and had poor range. The drones of 2016 are now fitted with four motors which make the flight exponentially more precise and efficient. They also have up to date hardware that is able connect to smartphones and tablets which allows the drones to be controlled without a standard remote. Professional drones equipped with 4K cameras and smartphone friendly hardware range in price from £2000-£4000, providing a much more cost effective option to helicopters. There have however been many complaints often by large landowners expressing that they feel as if their land is being spied on by drones due to their onboard recording devices. Drone complaints have subsequently attached a negative stigma to quad rotors as there have been many reports in the media on the intrusive side to drones.
Although it is very clear that technology has advanced enough for film makers in particular to use drones as professional filming equipment, sufficient development and testing is required to ensure a high success rate in surveying criminal activity. Drones will need to change opinion in terms of the existing stigma they carry. With backing from the police and the government there is no doubt that police drones will be patrolling the skies sooner than we may have thought.
