PolAir-Remote, an Australian-first policing aviation capability that uses drones to help combat crime, was officially launched in Moree today by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley.
Also present was NSW Police Deputy Commissioner for Regional NSW Field Operations Paul Pisanos, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland, New England Police District Superintendent Chris McKinnon, Moree Police Inspector Dwayne De Vries, Superintendent Chris Nicholson, Inspector Dan Bennett, Moree Plains Shire mayor, Susannah Pearse, deputy mayor Wayne Tighe and Moree councillor Fred McGrady.
Police Commissioner Lanyon said the NSW Police Force’s commitment to Moree is to keep the community safe.
“We want to keep all regional communities safe and by running this trial, we can determine whether to scale up the program to make sure we do keep our communities safe,” Mr Lanyon said.
He stressed the use of drones across Moree were not for surveillance purposes.
“This is not about surveillance or looking at individuals,” Mr Lanyon said.
“It is about the ability to be able to access, and put up a remotely-piloted aircraft, for emergencies.
“For example, a matter like a break-and-enter, a stolen motor vehicle or a robbery – this is about putting something in the air to provide police with the information they need to act safely, but make quick arrests,” he said.
“In Sydney, we can have a helicopter up in the air pretty quickly, but we can’t always get a helicopter out to Moree in time.
“The way we use these drones will be the exact same way we use manned aircraft. Whether it’s helicopters or planes, we will use drones for the same purpose,” he said.
“We work very closely with CASA to make sure we meet all regulations. We have an air operator’s certificate for our remotely-piloted aircraft and what makes this unique is that we are making it part of everyday policing.”
NSW Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyon, and Moree Plains Shire mayor, Susannah Pearse, at Moree Police Station on Thursday to announce the launch of PolAir-Remote in Moree.
Moree mayor Susannah Pearse hopes the presence of drones across the Moree skies will continue well beyond the program’s six-month trial.
“We are absolutely grateful for this investment, and we’ve received really positive feedback from community members,” Cr Pearse said.
“We are really excited about the positive, early signs, and these drones are helping police in their day-to-day work.
“We can’t wait to see what it brings over the full life of the trial, and we hope it continues.
“This investment in our community for the safety of our people is absolutely welcomed, and it’s wonderful to see this innovative approach being taken,” she said.
“At the end of the day, what our community members want – and what everyone wants in all communities – is to feel safe in their homes and that there is no threat to them.”
Drone trials have been carried out in Moree since early January, and already have assisted police to track down and arrest offenders.
The two DJI Matrice 4-TD drones are positioned on the roof of Moree Police Station and are remotely piloted from a ‘Remote Operations Centre’ at Bankstown Airport.
The video is fed back live to police on the ground, giving officers eyes in the sky for search and rescue operations, pursuits, break-and-enters and vehicle recoveries.
The drones – operating under the callsign POLAIR 800 – can be remotely deployed within minutes to provide operational support and early situational awareness to frontline officers – ensuring police know exactly what they’re up against and allowing them to respond with appropriate resources.
Features of the drones include day and thermal cameras, a spotlight for night searching and a speaker capable of making announcements.
They are housed in two self-contained docks which communicate with the NSW Police Force Aviation Command, allowing a remote pilot to fly the drones.
The drones can reach anywhere in Moree within two to three minutes of launch.
On average, police aircraft fly approximately 50 hours per year in Moree, the drone activity will significantly increase this to 500 hours.
This is the first time drone technology has been used in this way in Australian policing.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said community safety is the highest priority.
“Today we’re announcing an Australian-first drone trial to strengthen policing in our regional communities – starting right here in Moree,” Ms Catley said.
“Our police have an incredibly difficult job, dealing with a complex and evolving range of issues every single day. This investment is about making their job easier and safer, so they can focus on protecting the community on the ground.
“We know there is more to do to rebuild trust after a shocking spate of incidents that left communities fearful.
“The NSW Government and NSW Police are doing everything possible to address that, and we will continue working to restore confidence and keep people safe.”
Moree police may need a fleet of six drones to control the crime in Moree.
A great technological tool to have though.
Maybe attach laser stun guns to the drones too.
Save the police from getting injured.
Good work Moree.