Pilotless police drone takes off

[homesick_american 1]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6676809.stm

The UK's first police remote control helicopter has taken off.

Merseyside police are using the "spy drone", fitted with CCTV cameras, mainly for tackling anti-social behaviour and public disorder.

The machine is 1m wide, weighs less than a bag of sugar, and can record images from a height of 500m.

Originally used by the military, it is due to be operational by June for a full three-month trial, which is the "first of its kind" in the UK.

The drone will also be used for monitoring traffic congestion and investigations are to made into its possible role in firearms operations.

The machines, which are flown by remote control or using pre-programmed GPS navigation systems, are silent and can be fitted with night-vision cameras.

They images they record are sent back to a police support vehicle or control room.

Merseyside's assistant chief constable Simon Byrne said: "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.

"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."

The force has been assisted by the Police, Crime and Standards Directorate.

Deputy director, Stephen Cahill, said: "We are pleased to support Merseyside Police in their efforts to reduce crime through the use of new technology.

"This trial is the first of its kind in the country and we're excited about its potential."

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Grrr... I am so sick of this surveillance sh!t in this society. Combined with those CCTV cameras that now yell at you if you drop litter and the proposed DNA-databasing of newborns and the one camera for every 16 Britons....sigh.

[homesick_american 1]

Grrr... I am so sick of this surveillance sh!t in this society. Combined with those CCTV cameras that now yell at you if you drop litter and the proposed DNA-databasing of newborns and the one camera for every 16 Britons....sigh.

Makes the Patriot Act look warm and fuzzy, doesn't it. :lol: :lol:

[Fandango 1,440]

this is crazy. Thank God David's leaving, lol

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I'm really embarrassed to say that it was my former MIL who started up and promoted the whole DNA database project in her former job of Head of the Forensic Science Service. She was not only a Class-A beeyatch to me, but has shafted the whole country too. Thanks Janet!!!

[TheZilla 0]

People get annoyed with me when I mention how quickly we're all turning in to Orwell's 1984, but there it is.

[mawilson 2,133]

People get annoyed with me when I mention how quickly we're all turning in to Orwell's 1984, but there it is.

"Turning"? Wake up, darling, we're already there!

[homesick_american 1]

People get annoyed with me when I mention how quickly we're all turning in to Orwell's 1984, but there it is.

LOL, that reminds me of something that happened in 2002; I was on the bus going to work and a trainee actuary at the same company spotted me and sat down next to me. I was reading a copy of 1984, and he asked what it was. I flipped it so he could see the cover, and he said "What's that about...the 80s or something?" I thought he was kidding, so I joked "Well, I'm just reading it again; I had to read it in school, just like you." He had a blank look on his face. Turns out he'd not only never read it, he'd never heard of it. :o :o