According to the UK’s Independent Newspaper, Scotland Yard is understood to have spoken to the Civil Aviation Authority over the use of small radio-controlled devices in order to keep a watchful eye over the mega event.
Though the Met Police already has three Eurocopter EC145 helicopters in Essex, from the force’s Air Support Unit, the officers want to monitor multiple events during the Olympics using extra capacity-providing smaller unmanned aircraft. Three constabularies – Essex, Merseyside and British Transport Police – the surveillance drones are said to have been used.
However, there hasn’t been a clear confirmation yet on the extra surveillance devices and the defence weapons to be used by the security officials at the Olympics.
A source from the Met Police told the newspaper: “Any force that wants to use drones inside a danger area have to get permission. It means built-up areas, places where people gather en masse like a stadium, or anywhere near flight paths.” However, the use of drones during the 2012 Olympic Games has not been “confirmed or denied” yet.
With a view to running the largest ever security operation, the Met Police recently had a discussion on the safe use of drones without compromising the air safety.
Meanwhile, the newspaper has quoted another police source as saying that the use of surveillance drones was not a high priority. “Surveillance drones are not very high up on our priority list,” the source said. “They tend to be quite pricey and require a huge amount of training.”
Source: International Business Times