West Midlands Police to debut drones at football derby
Birmingham City v Aston Villa
It will be the first time the force has used drones to monitor a football match.
West Midlands Police will monitor Sunday's derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa from the skies, as it debut's it's crowd spotting drone technology.
The unmanned aerial vehicle will be used to monitor crowds for any disorder during the game. However, they are not allowed to fly over St Andrews stadium, due to aviation rules. Instead, they will capture footage from surrounding areas.
The drone is controlled by a trained remote pilot while another officer observes to monitor the images being captured and ensure a safe flight. Officers will also patrol the city centre to maintain public safety.
The drones fly up to 400ft and footage can be used to assist an investigation. Sergeant Keith Holliday who is part of the operation, said it's a fantastic technology with real benefits to modern day policing:
This is first time West Midlands Police have used a drone in policing a big derby game and it can play an important role in ensuring the safety of the public.
We have obtained permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Birmingham Air Traffic Control - and although there are strict rules about how it is used - it will enable us to monitor crowds and any flashpoints.
A drone can cover a wide area in a short amount of time and capture quality, high definition video in real time.
– SERGEANT KEITH HOLLIDAY
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