The British Transport Police (BTP) has become the first police force in the UK to operationalize a remote ‘drone in a box’ system, marking a significant advancement in law enforcement technology. This innovative capability enhances BTP’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents on the railway network, improving safety, reducing disruption, and supporting frontline operations as they happen.

The drones are strategically stationed at key locations across the network identified as hotspots for trespass and other disruptive incidents. They are flown remotely from BTP’s central control room in London, enabling a faster response to incidents, facilitating more informed decision-making, and freeing up on-the-ground officers to attend to other offences.

While standard drone operations typically require the pilot to maintain a Visual Line of Sight (VLOS), usually within a 500-metre radius for smaller drones, police forces are permitted to operate beyond this distance (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) under State Aircraft legislation. BTP is the first force to obtain legal advice and use Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) routinely and regularly in support of policing, rather than solely for emergency situations.

The initiative was showcased during a launch event on April 24, 2025, at a pilot site in Leeds. The event featured a live demonstration of the drone capability for key industry partners, including Network Rail, the Department for Transport, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Drones lead, West Yorkshire Police, Northern Rail, and the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) .

Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi stated, “Our new ‘drone in a box’ capability is going to be transformational to our ability to reduce disruption across the rail network. This is groundbreaking technology which will allow us to respond to trespass incidents quickly, saving the industry money, improving safety, and keeping the railway moving for passengers”.

This deployment sets a precedent for the integration of autonomous drone technology in public safety operations, potentially influencing future policing strategies across the UK.

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12 May 2025