Dudley Council is set to launch a new drone, Blade 0.1, this summer to serve as the council's 'eye in the sky' in the fight against anti-social behaviour. The drone, capable of covering a 15-mile radius, will be equipped with advanced zoom technology and can fly up to 120 metres high and up to 500 metres away.
Key Features of Blade 0.1
The drone will be used to monitor and deter a range of anti-social activities, including off-road biking, fly-tipping, and illegal cannabis farms. Night flights will be possible thanks to thermal imaging technology, a spotlight, and GPS mapping capabilities.
This initiative is part of the council's 'zero tolerance' approach to anti-social behaviour, which tends to increase during warmer weather and longer, lighter evenings. The drone will also assist in tracking off-road bikes, investigating fly-tipping incidents, and identifying potholes.
Thermal Imaging for Drug Detection
The thermal imaging technology will allow the council to identify properties potentially used for growing illegal drugs. By capturing illegal activity on camera, the authority can identify and catch perpetrators, building cases against rogue individuals and activities. Footage can also be shared with the police for further investigations.
Michael Brereton, the council's director for development and regulation, said: 'Anti-social behaviour is a real concern to our residents, particularly during the summer months, whether it's off-road bikes, noisy neighbours, dangerous dogs or criminal activity in our communities. We recently passed a new anti-social behaviour policy and this is just the beginning of our roll-out, we will not let this sort of behaviour go unpunished. The drone will be our eyes in the sky and help us identify and bring offenders to justice.'
