The use of drones in security

The popularity of drones has grown hugely in recent years, both amongst consumers and in the commercial space.

With their unique ability to provide a bird’s eye view and to survey huge distances in minutes, drones can offer a wealth of benefits for security teams.

Here, we take a closer look at how drones are being utilised by the police, security teams and others working in enforcement, and what the legal considerations are for flying drones in UK airspace.

What is a drone?

A drone, also referred to as an unmanned aerial vehicle (or UAV for short), is best described as a small, un-piloted aircraft.  In its simplest form, a drone is basically a remote-controlled flying toy that can be used for general enjoyment. While drones at the other end of the spectrum are highly sophisticated flying devices, capable of a whole host of functions and uses.

Pre-programmable, or manually controlled by a ground-based operator, a drone has the capability to move 360-degrees and is normally equipped with a high-definition camera that can capture and transmit images in real time.

What are drones used for?

Drones were initially developed by the British and American military during WWI and they’ve most recently been weaponised in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Drones also have a growing fanbase among hobbyists, and their capabilities have seen them adopted for many other, non-military, purposes too.

For example, using drones to capture photos or video footage for use in marketing campaigns is just one way that are drones are being monetised commercially. Indeed, here at Venture we were lucky enough to get permission from our customer, English Heritage, to capture some drone footage at Stonehenge for our company video.

The fact that drones also possess the ability to carry payloads has made them desirable to the e-commerce, transport and logistics sectors too. Online retailer Amazon is reportedly in the process of trialing autonomous drone deliveries, and hopes to roll this option out to its customers soon.

These aren’t the only industries however, that are experimenting with using drones. In agriculture, drones are being used to water crops, while in construction, drones are helping to conduct site inspections and survey potential development plots. One benefit being that drones can be very helpful for quickly reaching those places that might otherwise be very difficult to access.

Who is allowed to operate a drone?

In the UK, the use of drones is governed by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and by law you need to register your drone with the CAA and pass a theory test to get a flyer ID before you are legally cleared to operate a drone in UK airspace.  Failure to do so can result in a fine, or in the most severe cases, even a prison sentence.

Any private security firm operating a drone for security purposes needs to possess both an SIA licence (a legal requirement of private security professionals) and a flyer ID. You can find out more about the legalities and processes for operating a drone here.

How do the UK police use drones?

Drones are already used by a number of police forces across the UK and in a number of different ways. Their use ranges from surveillance to gathering evidence, searching for missing people or persons of interest absconding from a crime scene, and monitoring emergency situations.

A November 2020 Freedom of Information request undertaken by dronewars.net revealed that 40 out of 42 police forces surveyed in England, Wales, and Scotland – totally 88% of respondents – are now using drones; a huge increase from the 28 forces using them in 2017.

One of the earliest adopters of drone technology was Dorset Police, who, together with Devon & Cornwall Police, have been using drones since 2015.

The growing use of drones within regional UK police forces provides a strong endorsement for their effectiveness in keeping people safe; something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the private security sector.

How can the use of drones benefit security teams?

1. Fast response

A huge advantage of drones is their agility, size, and speed. They can be deployed in a matter of minutes and reach destinations far faster than a team travelling on foot. in fact, Sussex and Surrey Police found that a drone could respond to a situation seven times faster than an officer on the ground.

With time of the essence in an emergency, this ability to have eyes on the ground faster than ever before offers a significant advantage when it comes to deterring criminals in the act, preventing theft, and capturing images that can be used for evidentiary purposes.

2. Quickly access hard to reach spots

 In addition to being able to respond to a security breach quickly, drones also possess the unique ability to access areas that may prove problematic for vehicles or ground patrols.

This presents security teams with yet another strong advantage in a time sensitive situation. Not being impacted by physical roadblocks, distances, or conditions on the ground, means a drone can respond to scenes that may be physically challenging for a ground team to navigate. 

This can be especially helpful in rural areas where light conditions are poor and access roads are limited.

How are drones being used by private security companies?

 From catching a criminal in the act, to helping assess a threat to determine the risk and respond accordingly, drones offer a number of unique capabilities that can complement more traditional security measures, such as mobile patrols, CCTV, and manned guarding.

Here are a couple of examples:

• Remote mobile surveillance

When it comes to surveying a larger site, such as a farm or private estate, drones offer unrivalled capabilities. Not only can they fly, they can also move in all directions, travel at speed, access hard to reach areas and relay the images they capture back to a ground operative in real-time. Some drones can even provide thermal imagery, making it harder for criminals to hide.

With the use of drones, security personnel can gain a 360-degree bird’s eye view that would only previously only have been possible by chartering a helicopter. The camera can feedback what it sees so the operative is fully aware of what’s happening in real-time.

They can zoom in closer if something does grab their attention, and some drones even allow you to speak via a microphone. They can be used to search and track a criminal or trespasser detected on site, also collecting video evidence of the assailant’s actions.

• Crowd management

Another potential use for drones is event security, where they can be valuable in two key ways – site mapping and crowd control.

At large events, drones can be used to 3D map an event location in minutes, which can help when modelling various scenarios including egress, evacuations, major incidents, crowd behaviour and more.

Then, during an event, drones can be invaluable for monitoring crowd behaviour and movement, including sending live-stream images back to the Event Control Room / Command Centre. Provided they are used safely, for example not being flown directly over the crowd and with a safe buffer.

They can be particularly useful in emergency situations, where images can support ground personnel to make critical decisions and to respond quickly based on what’s happening. 

About Venture

At Venture, we offer a range of cost-effective, professional security services; from manned guarding and mobile patrols to key holding and alarm response.

All of our security officers are highly trained, SIA licensed, use with the latest cutting-edge equipment and have the backing of our industry-leading systems and processes behind them.

If you’re based in Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset or Surrey, and you’re looking for a security provider you can trust, then call us on 01264 391538 or email [email protected] for more details.