Issue 66. South East Times. Page 15
Radio-controlled aircraft trial extended in Sussex and Surrey
Sussex and Surrey police forces have aircraft with a portable console from
up to 500m (546 yds) away.
been given £250,000 to expand a
Five UAVs will be bought to explore
trial of radio-controlled aircraft.
The trial of unmanned aerial vehicles how they could benefit forces
(UAVs) at Gatwick Airport showed nationally.
UAVs are used to gather evidence
they could provide a quicker
alternative to officer patrols, Sussex from the air and could help with
searches for missing or wanted
Police said.
people, a Sussex Police spokesman
The drones can send high-quality
pictures to police who can control the said.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve
Barry said: “Some of the benefits of
the UAV system have already been
demonstrated during the relatively
short period that we have had the
equipment for.
“They can go to places where it is
unsafe for officers and can gather
evidence quickly that could be vital
in an investigation or that could help
us deploy officers to the right places
at the right time, potentially allowing
us to make life-saving decisions.”
The Home Office has awarded the
forces the money from the Police
Innovation Fund.
In May 2014, the force said drones
could have helped the force assist
people affected by the winter floods.
Man repeatedly hit in St Leonards hammer attack
A man suffered a head injury after
being attacked by a suspected thief
who jumped out of bushes and hit him
repeatedly with a hammer.
The 26-year-old was injured during a
suspected attempted theft in Gillman’s
Hill, St Leonards, at about 17:00
GMT on Tuesday, police said.
A Sussex Police spokesman said it
was an unprovoked and random attack
which left the man with a cut to his
head.
The attacker was a white man aged
about 40, wearing John Lennon style
glasses.
Retirement