Police drone - what does it look like and what is it used for?
Drones are now used in many fields - including law enforcement operations. They are used by m.in. police, both in Poland and in other countries. What a police drone is used for, what capabilities it provides and what you should know about it?
What police drones are used for?
Police drones can be used for many different purposes - m.in. for monitor various situations from the air or to provide operational support. One of the most common areas of use of such devices is traffic control. But that's not all - a police drone is also an increasingly common sight when securing mass events or searching for missing persons. In addition, the police drone allows surveillance of hard-to-reach areas, such as forest and mountainous areas or dense urban areas, without involving a large number of officers. The police drone is particularly useful at events such as concerts, demonstrations or sports competitions, enabling rapid detection of threats and coordination from the air.
What opportunities police drones offer police?
It is worth noting that a police drone is a device equipped with advanced cameras, often with much better performance than in commercial drones. This allows the devices to capture high-quality images in real time - both during the day and at night. Importantly, a number of special technical solutions are also used in the area of service support. For example, a police drone at night can be equipped with night vision and thermal imaging technology, allowing effective monitoring even in conditions of limited visibility.
Due to its ability to move quickly through the air, the police drone can provide images from any location, monitoring large areas in a short period of time. Services can also use such data m.in. for patrolling dangerous areas where the risk to officers is too high. All of this means that the police drone provides a range of new capabilities for the police, mainly centered around supporting operations in challenging conditions.
Do police drones measure the speed of vehicles?
Many people wonder if police drones measure speed. The answer to this question may be surprising - although in theory it would be possible by using high-resolution cameras and taking image-based measurements, in practice, a police drone is rarely used for this purpose. However, this does not mean that such devices are not used in traffic control. The police drone can be used to identify various offenses, such as unsafe maneuvers, overtaking on bans or running red lights. The tasks carried out by drones therefore focus more on providing evidence - which in turn can be used for further investigation or sanctions.
Importantly, the police drone can be connected to other speed control systems. It is also worth noting that police drones are subject to the same regulations as other recording devices, such as speed cameras. This means that the police drone and the data it collects (in particular - the recorded image) can be the basis for issuing a traffic ticket.
What range does a police drone have?
The range offered by a police drone depends on several factors - the most important issues are the design of the device and the technical solutions used. In Poland, drones with a range of a few kilometers (usually approx. 2 km), allowing effective monitoring of different areas. In addition, police drones are often characterized by the ability to operate at fairly high altitudes (even up to several hundred meters), providing a better view of a given location. Also an important piece of equipment are night vision and thermal imaging cameras, that allow you to maintain visibility at night.
What a police drone looks like?
What a police drone looks like? Most devices of this type present themselves similar to commercial drones, however, they are noticeably larger. The type of camera used is also an important differentiator - a police drone must be able to record events from a distance, which is why wy use lenses with up to 30x optical zoom and 180x digital zoom. Selected models may also be equipped with specialized GPS systems or additional propellers to ensure stable flight in difficult weather conditions.
How to spot a police drone at night?
It's also worth knowing what a police drone looks like at night. How to spot a police drone at night? Such devices can be difficult to spot, especially when operating at a considerable height. Police drones at night, however, can be recognized by their the use of lighting to keep them safe while flying in low-visibility conditions. Mostly these are LEDs. Sometimes they can be turned off - this occurs during operations that require hiding the drone's presence. In addition to the light positioning lights, the police drone can also be recognized by the distinctive sound of spinning propellers, which can be heard from several meters away.
Where to find police drones in Poland?
Police drone is an increasingly important piece of equipment for Polish police. Already one in ten Poles has encountered fines for offenses recorded with a drone or has heard of such a situation, and 70% of people believe that a police drone is an effective way to improve road safety (for more information, see our report "What Poles think about the use of drones?"). The devices are used in a variety of ways, depending on the operational needs of the location - but the most common use of the devices is specifically focused on traffic. In recent months, a police drone is also a relatively common sight on the Polish-Ukrainian and Polish-Belarusian borders, where equipment of this kind supports both border guards and the military, as well as the police. There are many indications that the police drone is a solution that will stay with us for a long time - mainly because of the numerous possible applications of such devices. In addition to recording traffic violations, the police drone can also serve as a supporting rescue operations and assisting in the prosecution of criminals, which makes it an extremely useful tool for various services.
