Drone network part of Met’s London-wide tech push

Drones will be part of some 999 call responses across London as part of a major expansion in technology use by the Metropolitan Police.

In a wide-ranging speech on Wednesday, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley will lay out plans to expand an existing programme into a “city-wide drone network”.

The use of drones in to respond to emergencies, which Big Brother Watch described as “alarming”, is an expansion of an existing pilot scheme in Islington.

Among other reforms, Sir Mark will also call for more freedom in using new technology – like facial recognition and AI – without waiting on new laws to keep up, and allow forces to focus their spending on technology over officer recruitment.

The force said that the new drones were quicker, quieter, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than police helicopters, while delivering the same operational results.

Under a pilot in Islington, drones have been launched only as a response to a 999 call, the Met said, and have been piloted by trained operators remotely from the force control room.

The technology allows officers to send drones directly to incidents, providing live aerial footage, tracking suspects and supplying critical intelligence before officers arrive.

‘Intrusive surveillance’

Eight months into the pilot, the force said the programme has grown significantly. It is now operating three drone bases across London, with nine drones attending around 200 incidents each week.

Sir Mark will say: “Drones are already transforming how we respond to incidents – getting visuals from the scene in minutes, giving officers critical intelligence and helping us act faster and more safely.

“Now we are scaling that capability across London and working with partners to create a truly integrated, city-wide drone network.”

Jake Hurfurt from Big Brother Watch said drones may have a role in providing quicker updates to evolving emergencies – but the Met “must not use them as constant flying surveillance cameras”.

He said the force had “point blank refused to disclose to the public any documents outlining how, why or when it uses these drones.

“It is alarming that potentially intrusive surveillance is being rolled out with such little scrutiny.”

On Tuesday, the force announced the expansion its use of static live facial recognition cameras to London’s West End and Soho.

Human rights organisation Liberty said the force should pause its use of the technology until a legal framework is put in place to govern its use.

The Met commissioner will use his speech to call for a move away from creating new legislation for the use of each new technology as it emerges.

“Policing by consent is key to the British policing model and is something we must treasure,” he will say.

“However, when it comes to new technologies, as we saw with Live Facial Recognition, some campaign groups call for new legislation and restrictions every time a new capability emerges.

“While that comes from a legitimate place, it risks slowing progress to the point where policing cannot keep pace with the threats we face.”

Source: (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg43nvej20)