Queensland Police to trial hi-tech surveillance drones to chase criminals
- Kate Kyriacou
- From:The Courier-Mail
QUEENSLAND police officers are testing a hi-tech surveillance drone that can be used to chase criminals, detect drug crops and find missing people all at a fraction of the cost of a helicopter.
As both Anna Bligh and Campbell Newman make competing election promises for a permanent police helicopter, The Courier-Mail can reveal testing is under way for superseding technology.
But civil liberty advocates warn that drones capable of flying at low altitudes pose significant privacy concerns.
The drones can be carried in the boots of cars and deployed almost immediately. They cost about $30 an hour to run, against about $500 an hour for a helicopter.
A police spokesman confirmed testing was under way but would not give details on what the drone would be used for.
“The Queensland Police (Service) is always inquiring about, and scoping, new technology in the marketplace,” he said.
“As the QPS is in a research-and-testing stage to determine viability of this particular product, we are not in a position to make further comment.”
Police Federation of Australia chief executive Mark Burgess said he was aware of several police jurisdictions trialling drones or Unmanned Aviation Vehicles.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/attack-of-the-drones/story-e6freoof-1226298641316
