New Palfoilor contract will provide novel dynamic airborne CCTV for the UK.
We will soon see unusual objects buzzing around our motorway networks, but not on the roads, flying hundreds of feet above them.
In a dramatic last minute twist the outgoing government approved funding to dramatically increase police surveillance capability across the UK. Just over £14m has been allocated to create a new drone police force across the UK. Some 1415 unmanned aerial vehicles will be procured.
At a cost of £5,000 each they will have sophisticated day/night CCTV camera systems able to recognize faces from a height of 1100 feet as well as automatically record vehicle number plates. However, SecurityNewsDesk has discovered that due to CAA flight restrictions it is likely that the maximum height they will be flown at will be 400 feet.
Part of the recruitment programme for new police officers across the UK will see some being recruited to fill some of the new posts in the drone units however it is believed that the drone pilots and maintenance crews will be provided by contract staff. Of the 200 new officers being recruited in the West Midlands alone an insider told Security News Desk that potentially 50 will be allocated to the new unit.
At least 3 different types of drone are being tested at secret military bases near Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire and it is understood a single operator can operate them. Initial use will be across areas of the motorway and road networks outside built up areas to catch speeding motorists.
Amai Loof from the Chinese manufacturer supplying Palfoilor said “our geo-referenced camera technology can accurately plot where 2 pictures have been taken and the time between them allowing the speed of a vehicle to be accurately recorded”. The silent and stealthy nature of these drones will likely upset human rights and motoring groups.
The drones have the ability to fly day or night and will only be grounded by strong winds. It is not anticipated that rain or icing will be an issue.
Final testing is due to be completed this year with initial drone units being deployed in time for the August Bank Holiday getaway rush where many speeding motorists cause accidents. It is anticipated that all of the 1415 drones will be deployed by 1st April 2016.
The first drones are equipped with speed detection cameras and the second batch are likely to have integrated facial recognition software meaning there will be nowhere people can hide. However, CAA restrictions do not allow drones to fly above built up areas.
For full details on Palfoilor please visit their profile in The Security Catalogue HERE
