Northumbria Police: Drones ready to 'catch criminals and improve safety'

The force will use its drones for various events

Northumbria Police is about to start using eight drones as "eyes in the sky" to tackle crime.

The force's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Kim McGuinness said the devices would be available at all times, with two of the drones able to fly in challenging weather conditions.

Initially three officers have had pilot training, with a further 16 expected to be ready by the end of November.

Ms McGuinness said it was "important" to find new ways "to fight crime".

"This is just a small start, but it means we will have the ability to use technology to support officers and take on criminals," said Ms McGuinness. 

"These eyes in the sky will make a real difference in everything from catching criminals to improving safety at events, with intelligence-led policing at its heart.

"We've seen in other forces their use grow and I think that will become a feature of policing here as well."

Ms McGuinness said the drones would be used force-wide from the end of November

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the force would be able to fully use the drones from the end of next month for various events.

Members of a Police and Crime Panel at Gateshead Civic Centre heard that Ms McGuinness wanted to have them in place sooner but the force had to make sure it had the right "training, licensing and relevant certifications in place".

A drone has already been tried by officers in a joint operation earlier this year with British Transport Police, to track off-road bike riders in Northumberland.

Newcastle Lib Dem councillor Peter Lovatt told the meeting having drones follow illegal bikes was an "excellent idea".

While Gordon Stewart, a Conservative councillor in Prudhoe, said he was "delighted" with the initiative.

The force does not currently engage in chases with anti-social and illegal bikes due to the dangers of doing so - to the riders, officers and the passing public.

The chief constable of Northumbria Police, Vanessa Jardine, said earlier this month that the use of drones was a "huge opportunity".