Dudley Council's high-tech drone team is catching yobs and car cruisers at the Merry Hill Centre, with vehicles seized and offenders facing action under Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO). During Operation Stinger on July 2, drone pilot Andy Stevens from Dudley Council and West Midlands Police officers observed from the centre's roof, using the drone's advanced camera to direct ground officers.
High-Tech Surveillance in Action
Mr Stevens said: "It has a very, very high definition camera, it can zoom in from up to three kilometres away with complete and utter clarity, it has facial recognition technology and thermal imaging so it doesn't matter if it is day or night time." The drone team communicated via radio to direct police on the ground.
As a result, police seized a car driven without insurance and an off-road Surron-type bike after a pursuit. The rider faced traffic offences and may also face action under the PSPO covering Merry Hill, including potential breach of tenancy if they live in council housing.
PSPO Enforcement and Tenancy Breaches
Mr Stevens noted: "We have had several vehicle PSPOs we have been able to evidence and are progressing at the moment, just this afternoon we visited two properties to serve tenancy notices. It was a breach of tenancy where we had the drone in the air on one occasion. We saw the off-road motorbikes going into the back gardens of two separate properties, we then followed that up with action."
Merry Hill is a hotspot for street racing. Dudley Council recently replaced a court injunction banning car cruising with a PSPO allowing fixed penalties of up to £100. The PSPO prohibits activities causing nuisance, such as revving engines, rapid acceleration, loud music, threatening behaviour, obstructing highways, or parking on footpaths.
Expanding the Drone Program
After early success, the council plans to buy more drones and train more pilots. Mr Stevens said: "We cover the entire Dudley borough, there has been a lot of focused work to address ASB issues, this is a new asset, naturally we are using it."
Dudley Council leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, said: "Antisocial behaviour is a scourge on our society, and we have heard from residents who are keen to see us take action against those who flout the rules and disrespect our communities. Dudley Council is working with partners and utilising groundbreaking technologies in the fight against ASB."
