Police Use Drone To Spy On V Festival

Eye In The Sky: Police Use Drone To Spy On V Festival

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2152983,00.html

Police used a remote-controlled spy drone to watch crowds at the V festival at the weekend, the first time the technology has been used at a major public event.

The 70cm-wide flying surveillance device, fitted with high-resolution still and colour video cameras as well as infrared night vision capability, was used to keep tabs on people thought to be acting suspiciously in car parks and to gather intelligence on individuals in the crowd.

Staffordshire police said the drone's images did not lead directly to any arrests, but one reason for using it had been to deter would-be thieves. It was not flown over the main arena because of fears that a crash might cause injuries.

The battery-operated drone's four carbon-fibre rotors are so quiet they cannot be heard from the ground once it is higher than 50 metres, and at 100 metres up it cannot be seen with the naked eye. It can fly 500 metres high, but the Civil Aviation Authority has set an operating limit of 120 metres. The vehicle, which takes off vertically, can be flown even when out of sight, because it beams images back to video goggles worn by the operator.

nt

1984

on the one hand, I'm kind of glad the police are trying to maximize their efficiency at an EVENT. That is instead of having cops walking around, making people generally uncomfortable (human nature) they are trying to pinpoint illegal activity. They also didn't arrest anyone, which probably means the teens snogging behind the burger seller doesn't count ;).

on the other hand it's when they start using these things (watch eyes in Dune's machine crusade) for NON-PUBLIC activities, then i get concerned. Using this for an even doesn't bother me... it's when they use them for OTHER reasons that I get worried... I mean infrared? is that necessary?