British Transport Police Pioneers Remote ‘Drone in a Box’ Technology to Enhance Rail Safety
The British Transport Police (BTP) has become the first police force in the UK to operationalise a remote ‘drone in a box’ capability, marking a significant advancement in policing technology aimed at improving public safety and reducing disruption across the railway network.
Revolutionising Incident Response
This innovative system allows drones to be stationed at strategic locations known for high incidences of trespassing and other disruptions. Controlled remotely from BTP’s London headquarters, these drones can be rapidly deployed to incident sites, providing real-time aerial footage to inform decision-making and free up officers to attend to other duties.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Operations
Traditionally, drone operations are limited to the pilot’s visual line of sight, approximately 500 meters for small drones. However, BTP has obtained legal clearance to operate drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) under State Aircraft legislation. This makes BTP the first UK police force to routinely and regularly utilise BVLOS capabilities in support of policing activities, not just emergencies. The force has established a robust framework to ensure safe and compliant operations.
Collaborative Launch and Future Expansion
On April 24, BTP hosted a launch event at a pilot site in Leeds, showcasing a live demonstration of the drone capability to industry partners including Network Rail, the Department for Transport, NPCC Drones, West Yorkshire Police, Northern Rail, and the British Transport Police Authority.
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi highlighted the transformative potential of this technology:
“Our new ‘drone in a box’ capability is going to be transformational to our ability to reduce disruption across the rail network. This is groundbreaking technology which will allow us to respond to trespass incidents quickly, saving the industry money, improving safety, and keeping the railway moving for passengers.”
BTP plans to work closely with rail industry partners to expand this capability across the railway network, reinforcing its commitment to leveraging advanced technology to enhance public safety and operational efficiency.
For more information, visit the official BTP news release: BTP Launches Remote ‘Drone in a Box’ Capability.
