Drone unit ‘historic step’ for UK police

Two police forces have become the first in the UK to launch a fully operational drone unit. Devon and Cornwall and Dorset police forces began trialling the technology in November 2015 and the unit has now become fully established.

Five officers have been trained, with a further 40 aiming to complete their Civil Aviation Authority accreditation in the next 12 months. There are six dr ones, equipped with a zoom camera and thermal imaging, in operation across the two forces.