Lincolnshire Police Drone unit excels in UAV use, communications

Despite UK drone regulations that have been knocked by critics for confounding increased use by consumers, businesses, and public administrations alike, the Lincolnshire Police force has not only found a way to fully integrate UAVs into its work, but has made the rising number of its aerial exploits a main vector of its external communications strategy.

The Lincolnshire Police Drone division sailed into the year with a staff of 15 pilots, and has managed to be at least as active in the first nine months as it was in 2022 – when its craft were scrambled for nearly 400 official missions. In July alone, the unit reported its UAVs were deployed 131 times during 52 total hours of operation. 

Last Friday, meanwhile, Lincolnshire Police said its drones had flown 4:47 hours on Wednesday, then an additional 3:52 hours Thursday in response to its own calls for assistance, as well as in support of three other forces in its central-east region of…