New drones give West Midlands Police ‘eyes on scene’ within seconds

West Midlands Police is piloting a new generation of remotely controlled drones that could transform the way officers respond to 999 calls.

Sergeant Chris Turton, who leads the force’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) project and has worked with police drones since “their infancy,” says the technology finally delivers what frontline officers have always needed clarity before they arrive.

“When officers respond to a job, they’re reliant on information coming from callers, and that can sometimes be mixed or incomplete,” he said. “The fact we can now stream live footage from a drone straight to officers as they’re on the way means they’re not going in blind. They can see exactly what’s happening.”

The drones sit in weatherproof rooftop boxes and can be launched at the touch of a button from a police control room. Once airborne, they deliver high-definition video, powerful zoom, up to 200 times, and thermal imaging for nighttime or complex searches.

Sgt Turton says the change in quality from the early days is huge: “Back then the footage wasn’t always usable. Now the level of clarity lets us capture fine detail — even something like a number plate at 500 metres.”

The technology has already been used during fast-moving incidents including shoplifting, assaults and proactive operations targeting stolen e-bikes and drug-related activity. Quick deployment has proved crucial, with drones often overhead before officers even reach the scene.

For Sgt Turton, who never imagined drones would become part of policing when he first joined, the advances have been remarkable. “Understanding how quickly the tech was developing — and how many areas of policing it could support that’s what made it exciting.” He adds that remote launching also removes risks: “We don’t have to fight traffic or drive urgently. The drones get there first.”

He knows some people still question how police drones are used, but stresses their purpose is clear. “Every police drone is launched for a policing reason responding to an incident, looking for offenders, safeguarding vulnerable people, or capturing evidence. It’s about improving the service we provide to the public.”

West Midlands Police continues to work with the National Police Chiefs’ Council as the wider national programme explores how drone technology could be used across UK policing in the years ahead.