UK: Police Using Surveillance Drones Designed for Military
May 21st, 2007Via: thisislondon:
The UK’s first police “spy drone” took to the skies today.
The remote control helicopter, fitted with CCTV cameras, will be used by officers in Merseyside to track criminals and record anti-social behaviour.
The drone is only a metre wide, weighs less than a bag of sugar, and can record images from a height of 500m.
It was originally used for military reconnaissance but is now being trialled by a mainstream police force.
Good God almighty! Now they’re flying drones to keep tabs on you? Eric Blair must be spinning in his grave. What gets me is the statement “anti social behavior”. As defined by whom?
Here you can buy one for yourself (this is the German company which builds this drones 🙂
http://www.microdrones.com/
i remember last years CCC Congress in Berlin where there was one of these things in action and a talk about it. Quite interesting to see the pictures this thing produces. And for rough 10 Kiloeuros now not too expensive either for whoever …
additionally this thing is damn silent, one would have to be very aware of the environment to recognize it is there. at least here in Germany does not require any kind of license as it is below the minumum weight necessary to be classified as anything. so welcome to the next generation of privatized spying i guess, but see for yourselves on the website alpilotx provided, there should be some very nice videos around.
i recommend http://www.microdrones.com/downloads/videos/videos/onboardvideo.wmv