Report Summary
This report provides members of the Policing Performance Committee with an update on Police Scotland’s Air Support Unit use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
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DEPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Dedicated RPAS officers have impacted positively on both reactive and proactive policing.
Policing Commanders have provided positive feedback and recognise RPAS are versatile tactic that can be utilised in support of incidents and operations. Some examples are provided to demonstrate the real time human impact that RPAS has:
A Division – Teams deployed to the Aberdeen area to assist in the extensive search for high risk missing persons. They were able to access large search areas using RPAS, mitigating the need to put Officers at risk in difficult areas on the ground.
D Division - Search for missing 6-year-old child, who was autistic and non-verbal. Child located by RPAS and returned home by local officers.
N Division – Deployed to Wick to support N Division and Armed Policing following a prolonged incident at a farm property. Police Scotland helicopter was unable to attend due to poor weather, however, RPAS attended and were able to offer a tactical option.
J Division – Deployed at the Pentland Hills following the discovery of suspected body in a river. RPAS quickly confirmed deceased person and were able to capture images provided to CID, on call Procurator Fiscal and pathologist. The following day at the request of the on-call Procurator Fiscal, RPAS deployed to capture the recovery and subsequent imagery of the locus.
Q Division – Deployed at the Motherwell v Celtic fixture. Following a report of an assault pre-match, RPAS were able to quickly identify the suspects and monitor their movements, whilst providing updates to officers, resulting in three apprehensions.
