The Policing Board has endorsed proposals by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to buy a number of unmanned aircraft systems. It is understood that the Police Service of Northern Ireland is to purchase three small UAS at a combined cost of around £1m.
The first deployment is expected to be during the G8 summit in County Fermanagh in June. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), will be used in searches for suspects and missing persons. They will also provide support to officers attending calls and when dealing with public order situations.
The decision of the board has been welcomed by the Democratic Unionist Party policing board spokesman Robin Newton.
“The UAS will be of use in various fields, including the realm of public order,” he said.
“With the G8 coming up, I hope that these valuable technologies will form a part of the operation around this major conference.
“The use of unmanned aircraft systems will also be useful in helping to cut back on the costs that arise from the deployment of helicopters.”
Policing Board Chair Brian Rea said members had sought clarifications and assurances around “the regulation, scrutiny and oversight of the operation of these systems”.
“Questions were also raised on the arrangements for the retention and disposal of images obtained from use,” he said.
Mr Rea said the new equipment would be “a valuable asset” to the PSNI in policing a range of situations.
“The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that UAS, when compared to traditional aircraft operating costs, represents significant value for money, can be operated in weather conditions that may prevent other aircraft flying and are easily deployed which will provide Police Service of Northern Ireland with additional flexibility and resilience in response to situations.
“Members agree the importance of public understanding and confidence in how these systems will be used.”
A full review is to be carried out by the office of the Oversight Commissioner after a year of operation to assess the effectiveness of the technology.
Source: BBC