DEVON and Cornwall Police are trialling the use of drones in missing person searches and crime scene photography.

Starting on Monday, the six-month trial will see officers able to call upon the services of the two DJI Inspire 1 Drones, one based in Exeter and the other in Plymouth, which are equipped with high definition cameras for both video and still photos.

One drone has already been used in the hunt for a missing woman in Plympton on Tuesday, November 3. She was found safe and well.

Inspector Andy Hamilton who is heading up the trial said: ‘Drones offer many benefits that complement the National Police Air Service helicopter. This technology offers a highly cost effective approach to missing person searches, crime scene photography, and responding to major road traffic collisions.

‘Using a drone to capture footage on difficult terrain and hard to reach areas such as cliffs, woodland or the moors to find a missing person, combat wildlife crime or even a firearm incident, will allow officers to gain vital information, quickly, safely, and allow us to respond effectively at the scene.’

Civil Aviation Authority regulations state that drone operators must pass a national CAA accredited qualification. Currently the force has three trained operators in place for the trial, including Inspector Hamilton, and there are plans to train further officers should the trial prove to be a success.

Insp Hamilton added: ‘This technology still has its limitations; the models we are trialling are currently unable to fly at night or in adverse weather, but having the option to put a drone in the air in a few minutes’ notice could help save lives.

‘Both drones have a HD downlink which means officers on the ground can see live footage captured by the drone in the air. It can stay in the air for up to 18 minutes at a time before returning to the operator to change batteries. Each drone has several batteries and therefore can be kept operational for a prolonged period of time if required.’

A new twitter account has been created @DC_PoliceDrones which will keep the public informed about where and when the drone is in operational use within Devon and Cornwall, as well as sharing operational footage and images of the drone in action.