The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has announced a significant expansion of drone operations, live facial recognition (LFR) cameras, and AI video analysis throughout London to enhance crime-fighting capabilities.
Following a successful eight-month drone pilot project in Islington, the Met now deploys nine drones weekly to attend over 200 incidents from three operational sites. The ambitious plan aims to achieve drone coverage in every London borough by next year, integrating these resources with the blue light services’ emergency drone network.
Drones Transform Police Response
Since October, drones have markedly reduced police response times, with average arrival times now under two minutes. These aerial devices provide real-time visuals, assist in tracking suspects, and support officers in making safer tactical decisions. The Met intends to expand this capability citywide, with drones often becoming the first resource deployed to incident scenes.
Live Facial Recognition Success
The police are also increasing the deployment of static live facial recognition cameras after proven success in Croydon, where LFR contributed to a 10.5% reduction in crime and aided hundreds of arrests. Since early 2024, LFR technology has helped locate over 2,000 dangerous offenders, including individuals wanted for serious offences such as rape and child abuse.
AI Accelerates Investigations
With approximately one million CCTV cameras across London, the Met utilises AI-powered analytics to quickly scan video footage, identifying suspects, vehicles, and key events. This technology has already saved the equivalent of 454 officer days in video review time across 23 major cases, enabling faster progress in investigations and improved evidence detection.
Call For National Reform
Commissioner Rowley has cautioned that current legislation is not keeping pace with rapid technological advancements. He called for clear and consistent principles supported by strong oversight and transparency. Additionally, he stressed the urgent need for increased funding for policing technology, noting that the Met invests less than half of what other government agencies spend per person, which risks falling behind organised criminals.
Political Backing And Public Support
London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, praised the Met’s leadership in adopting new technologies, highlighting record funding for innovations such as e-bikes and body cameras. Public support for police technology remains strong, with 87% of Londoners backing drone use for 999 emergency calls and 80% supporting the adoption of new policing technologies.
Originally published by UKNIP.
