Crime to be fought from the sky
Security agency now using drones to patrol problematic areas.
A new battle plan to fight crime in Centurion has brought a drone with cutting-edge technology to spot troublemakers from the air from any vantage point.
Security agency Copwatch said it was now making use of drones to patrol areas of Centurion worst affected by crime.
Currently in its test phase, the Drone pilot project aimed to give the firm the ability to have an aerial view of any situation they responded to.
“Although there are some privacy laws that may hamper our efforts, our aim is not to invade anyone’s privacy. We simply want to be able to effectively respond to any scene. One of the aims is to be able to patrol the large open fields across Centurion where criminals often hide or flee to after they commit a crime,” said Copwatch Managing Member Bertus Myburgh.
“This is especially useful in areas like the infamous John Vorster Drive/Rabie Street and End Street T-Junction, where motorists are often targeted in smash and grabs.”
The first drone, code named Charlie Delta 1, has a wide radius it could patrol, said Myburgh.
It could fly as high as 120m, had a flight radius of 500m and featured a high-definition video camera and camera to take photos and videos of any scene.
Anthonie van der Smit of Copwatch said the ideal for the company would be to have every reaction officer equipped with a drone in his vehicle.
“This would mean they would be able to safely scope out any scene they respond to, giving them the edge should they need to go in and apprehend a suspect,” he said.
“This will be especially useful when responding to any alarms at the schools we patrol. They are very big, and is nearly impossible for one reaction officer to scope out by themselves. Now, the reaction officer will be able to send in a drone, see what the situation is, and respond to exactly where anything is happening.”
Although the first drone had a small range, it would be controlled by a mobile command centre, a large trailer equipped with internet access and 50-inch high-definition television.
“This drone will give us the ability to effectively patrol any area, and simultaneously give reaction officers the ability to know all about any scene before they go in. We will now offer amendments to clients’ contracts, so that we will have permission to fly into their property if we need to respond to an alarm at their home,” said Myburgh.
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