Nation-leading law enforcement drone trial underway in Perth

• Australian-first 'Drone in a Box' trial underway at Yanchep Police Station
• WA Police Force using technology to support emergency response
• Strategically positioned drone dock enables instant deployment of aerial asset
• Trial established following similar successful international programs

The Western Australia Police Force has begun trailing Drone in a Box technology to improve safety and enhance intelligence gathering for officers responding to emergencies.

Footage captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be live streamed to the mobile phones of frontline police, as well as officers and other agencies at the State Operations Command Centre (SOCC).

Stored in a transportable drone dock, the aerial asset can be deployed in strategic locations, launched remotely and have its battery automatically recharged.

To date, 80 flights have been completed as part of the Yanchep Drone in a Box trial, including successful use during simulated public safety scenarios such as missing person searches and the tracking of wanted vehicles.

The year-long pilot program will progress through three phases to thoroughly test the technology and its application in a range of weather conditions. Under appropriate approvals from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), the trial will see Drone in a Box operators transition from line-of-sight control to remote operation.

The trial comes after similar programs in other countries reported successful outcomes.

Comments attributed to Police Minister Paul Papalia:

"This is yet another example of the Western Australia Police Force leading the nation in adopting modern technology to enhance emergency response capability and make WA safer for everyone.

"Drone in a Box technology could mean WA Police have eyes on an incident before responding officers arrive.

"Having a bird's-eye view of a situation in real-time could give police important intel they otherwise wouldn't have had, allowing officers to make informed decisions on the ground."

Comments attributed to Police Commissioner Col Blanch:

"Every second counts in an emergency, so I'm excited to see if Drone in a Box technology can better protect my troops and potentially help them to make life-saving decisions faster.

"WA Police Officers face dangerous situations everyday so if I as Commissioner can use innovative technology like this to keep them safe, it's something I'm eager to investigate.

"This technology also allows us to securely live stream footage to other agencies such as DFES or St John WA during large scale emergency situations."

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