Police to launch drone patrol pilot scheme for crime prevention in Seoul

Social Affairs

Published: 17 Jun. 2024, 19:05

Police to launch drone patrol pilot scheme for crime prevention in Seoul

An official from the Gwanak Police Station demonstrates using a flight patrol drone for crime prevention at the Mokgolsan Trail in Gwanak District, southern Seoul, on Monday. This is the first time that drones are being used by police agencies in Seoul for crime prevention. [YONHAP]

Flight patrol drones are being introduced for crime prevention in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Previously, drones could be used when searching for missing children, preventing suicide or searching for people in a disaster or terrorist situation. With the revision to police rules regarding drones, which took place on March 19, drones are now allowed for patrol use by the police.

Accordingly, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency decided to conduct a drone patrol pilot project by the end of the year, focusing on Gwanak Police Station and Seocho Police Station. The two police stations plan to conduct drone patrols once or twice a month to identify terrain and the times suitable for drone patrols.

The drones used by police will be medium-sized models that can fly for up to 35 minutes. Although the flight times are short, police say that their efforts will not be disrupted, as they are preparing enough batteries for sessions of more than six hours.

Equipped with a thermal imaging camera and searchlight, each drone allows the possibility of night patrols. Targets on the ground can be identified even from 50 meters (164 feet) away through zoom functionality.

About 140 police drones nationwide and seven in Seoul are being prepared for use in the coming months.