Pia Marsh
May 12th, 2015

Share

Denmark is seeking to buy cold-weather drones that can operate at -40°C (photo: GeeJo)

If you believe the media reports, criminals in Christiania have been using drones for some time now, and now the Danish police are following suit after purchasing two video drones that will be tried out and used in their daily work until the autumn.

READ MORE: Pushers using drones against police in Christiania

The police have trained 20 pilots who will test and use the remote aerial vehicles for documentation and research purposes.

“Drones are ideal for police as they make tasks faster and more manageable,” explained Deputy Police Inspector Benny Øchkenholt, the head of the National Police’s department for planning and development, who is responsible for the drone project.

“Right now, we use helicopters, but the implementation of drones will mean shorter response times and reduced police expenses.”

‘Need’ for drones
Øchkenholt asserts that drones are particularly relevant in places where police may otherwise find it difficult to gain an overview – for example, a recent case in Herlufmagle, where a victim was found in a clay pit.

“The drones have already been used in very different cases, but the clay pit was an obvious place to send a drone before the police entered,” said Øchkenholt.

“That way, we know if there is something we must be aware of and we can avoid destroying evidence.”

Best of the best
When selecting the right drones to trial, the police paid particular attention to quality.

“We have focused on a very high level of reliability and image transmission from the drone,” said Øchkenholt.

“At the same, time, it must be something we can easily move around – something that is easy to pack up, move out and apply quickly. It has a remarkably short response time in comparison to a helicopter.”

Øchkenholt did not confirm which two types of drones the police will be using. However, judging by a recent video released by police, one of the drones appears to be the newly-launched Inspire One by DJI, which is praised for its high-resolution image quality and costs around 25,000 kroner.

The police drone project is expected to begin by the end of May.

Prohibited in Arctic
In related news, passengers on cruises in the Arctic are no longer permitted to carry drones, say cruise operators.

The decision was made by the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). However, its members may, in special cases, such as in connection with research or film projects, be given special permission to use drones.

“The use of drones will inevitably increase the risk of disturbing animals, birds and other travellers,” said Frigg Jørgensen, the CEO of AECO.