An Australian-first drone trial underway in Moree is helping frontline police prevent, disrupt and respond to crime in the community.
Two DJI Matrice 4-TD drones have been positioned on the roof of Moree Police Station and are remotely piloted from a Remote Operations Centre at Bankstown Airport. The video is fed back live to police on the ground, giving officers eyes in the sky for search and rescue operations, pursuits, break and enters and vehicle recoveries.
Operating under the callsign POLAIR 800, the drones can be remotely deployed within minutes to provide operational support and early situational awareness to frontline officers, ensuring police know exactly what they are up against and allowing them to respond with appropriate resources.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the trial was already delivering results.
“This trial is already proving to be a game changer for policing in Moree.
“This is an Australian policing first that puts NSW ahead of the pack. We are backing our police with the resources and capability they need to keep communities safe.”
Among the incidents in which the drones have assisted was the arrest of a 19-year-old man in January who allegedly struck a 23-year-old man with a machete in West Tamworth. After police were notified the man was in the Moree area, PolAir-Remote was activated and assisted in tracking him after he ran from officers, jumping multiple fences. He was arrested and charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and is due to face Tamworth Local Court next month.
The drones also assisted in the arrest of a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man following an aggravated break and enter at a home on Merindah Avenue, Moree, and helped locate a stolen SUV in bushland near the Mehi River after a break and enter at a motel in Inverell.
During Operation Soteria in early February, PolAir-Remote assisted in the arrest of a 43-year-old man wanted on outstanding warrants and observed a number of fires across the Moree township, enabling police to notify fire crews to extinguish the blazes.
Speaking at the announcement in Moree yesterday, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon rejected assertions that the drones may be used for surveillance.
“This is all about safety. This provides a different set of eyes, that we don’t need to be as close, but we have timely information to keep people safe.”
“This not about surveillance, it’s about responding to crime, and making sure we see prompt action” he said.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner for Regional NSW Field Operations Paul Pisanos APM said the capability marked a significant step forward.
“PolAir-Remote is an Australian first. This is the first time drones will be used in this capacity – where they will be remotely piloted without the need for an on-site pilot – by a police force in the country,” Deputy Commissioner Pisanos said.
“The drones are an expansion of the existing aviation capabilities used across the state and will support frontline police in preventing, disrupting and responding to criminal activity in Moree,” he said.
“The trial has so far proven to be successful in tackling regional crime and giving the region a boost in operational resources.
Features of the drones include day and thermal cameras, a spotlight for night searching and a speaker capable of making announcements. They are housed in two self-contained docks which communicate with the NSW Police Force Aviation Command, allowing a remote pilot to fly the drones. From launch, they can reach anywhere in town within two to three minutes.
On average, police aircraft fly approximately 50 hours per year in Moree. The drone activity will significantly increase this to 500 hours. This is the first time drone technology has been used in this way in Australian policing.
“Our officers face complex, fast-moving situations every day. This investment helps make their work smarter – freeing them up to protect the community where it matters most,” Ms Catley said.
The drones were installed in January and the trial will run for six months, during which an evaluation will be conducted.
Today’s announcement follows data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research showing that NSW Police recorded incidents of youth crime related violent and property crime are down 20 per cent and break and enter and vehicle thefts are down 19 per cent across Moree over the past two years.
“We know there is more to do to rebuild trust after the shocking incidents that left this community shaken. The NSW Government and the NSW Police Force are working relentlessly to improve community safety and strengthen confidence – we won’t stop,” Ms Catley said.
Almost all categories of crime are down across the region, but the perception that crime is increasing persists because of the changing nature of crime, with more violent and brazen crimes being a feature in many regional centres since the pandemic. Moree has also been under intense focus due to national press attention, which distorts the reality of crime and life in Moree.
Moree Plains Shire Mayor Susannah Pearse said the announcement was welcome, and the technology was a great solution to issues that are otherwise hard to deal with.
“For example, the trail bikes that zoom around town all the time, the police can’t chase them, so the drones provide a safe way to find out where those bikes are deal with that problem.”
“The community saw that there would be lots of applications, and lots of ways that drones could help.”
Mayor Pearse said the initiative been something thats been a long time in development, with the local team working with CASA to get the rules right about having the drones remotely piloted from Bankstown. She also reiterated that the technology was not invasive and was limited to responding to crime.
“People are really welcoming of this announcement, and actually they’re quite excited if they see a drone.”
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