The TERROR DRONES OF CHRISTMAS
A festive fair in an English market town... and a spy in the sky to avert Berlin-style massacre
IT IS one of Europe’s busiest Christmas markets, with thousands of shoppers enjoying the festive spirit in the shadow of Lincoln’s magnificent gothic cathedral.
But in a sad sign of the times, police drones are this year watching over revellers to protect them from terrorists.
Armed officers are also on patrol in the medieval square where the market is held, and surrounding streets are blocked with concrete barriers to prevent a vehicle being driven into the crowds.
Other festive events around Britain have also beefed up security this year, but Lincoln’s is believed to be the only one protected by drones.
The heightened security measures follow last year’s attack on a Christmas market in Berlin when a terrorist driving a lorry ploughed
Barriers to stop a lorry being driven into crowds
into crowds, killing 12 people and injuring more than 50.
Lincolnshire Police have been flying one of their drones near the Norman castle, enabling officers to get a bird’s eye view of the event, which attracted a total of 260,000 visitors last year.
The drone uses a normal camera by day and thermal imaging at night, beaming live video to a command centre at the market and to police headquarters four miles away at Nettleham.
The Mail on Sunday found that most visitors to the market on Friday seemed unaware of any drones hovering at up to 400ft above them.
Under Civil Aviation Authority rules, drones are banned from being flown over large crowds, but police are allowed a ‘blue light dispensation’ if lives are at risk.
Sergeant Ed Delderfield, who is in charge of the Lincolnshire Police drone unit, said they had mainly been flying above the launch site where the bulk of the market could be viewed.
But he added: ‘If there was a fire- a r ms incident or s o mebo d y was marauding with a firearm, a knife or a vehicle, we are allowed to break regulations and fly over the crowd.
‘We could have the drone flying over the main entrance of the cathedral in less than ten seconds. We can be a potential eye-in-thesky for firearms commanders and public order commanders.’
The force’s four drones, which cost around £ 1, 200 each and which can fly at 50mph, have so far been used for helping to search for missing people and combating countryside crimes such as hare coursing.
Sgt Delderfield said officers had been explaining the use of drones to visitors at the market, which runs until the end of today.
‘I know that there have been some concerns about privacy and how we use drones, but people have been fantastically positive.
‘I have seen no negativity from the public,’ he said.
Visitors to the market, which has been running for 35 years, welcomed the extra security measures. Property manager Tess Hebblewhite, 43, who lives in the city, chatted to two armed officers with her four-year-old son Christopher.
‘I realise Lincoln is probably not at the top of the hit-list for terrorists, but there are thousands of visitors here, so you never know,’ she said.
Simon Colburn, an assistant director of health and environment services at Lincoln Council who has responsibility for the market, said: ‘This is the first time we have had drones and armed police visibly deployed on the streets. People are reassured by seeing them.’