Merseyside cops to launch spy in the sky
News article filed by British National Party news team
Merseyside Police are boasting about their latest toy to combat crime and anti-social behaviour. The force plan to trial a small model helicopter next month to help monitor sporting events, parks and open spaces and deal with serious incidents. The micro-drone can fly at heights in excess of 500m (1640ft) and is equipped with camera and video equipment.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne says that:
“We’re always looking at ways of putting more officers on the streets, and maximising technology is a powerful way of achieving this. Our drone will be used primarily to support our anti-social behaviour taskforce AXIS, in gathering all important evidence to put offenders before the courts.
“Other uses may include monitoring public disorder, crowd control during large scale events, and use during traffic congestion. We’re also looking at its potential during firearm operations. For us, this is a cost-effective way of helping to catch criminals and supports similar technology we’re already using in our vans and helicopter.”Have the Merseyside cops been conned by smooth talking gadget salesmen? Anyone who has ever piloted a remote control craft will know that communications kit can fail, motors can stop, rotor blades do come off and pilots do get disorientated. While we await the first case of compensation by concert goers in Liverpool or punters at Aintree racecourse for serious injury by a falling drone, Britain’s sky guardians might be interested in the use of a remote helicopter above the people of Merseyside.
The force’s planned use of the drone may actually be illegal; the flying of any craft over a crowd and at heights exceeding 400ft in built up areas would certainly break the rules established by the Civil Aviation Authority.
With the onset of sunny weather and young ladies sunning themselves in parks, gardens and beaches around Merseyside the micro-drone is a voyeur’s dream, although the operators of the device would never tolerate such action, in the same way private security firms who run many of Britain’s CCTV spy cameras in shopping malls and town centres would never tolerate any abuse of their equipment – yeah right!
New ways of dealing with crime are often being sought as an excuse for not dealing with the tried and trusted method of dealing with crime – having experienced officers on the streets!
http://www.bnp.org.uk/news_detail.php?newsId=1522
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=715