Land Sheriffs has introduced a new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) service to support its security and surveillance operations.
The company provides mobile patrols, manned guarding, welfare patrol teams, and CCTV deployment and monitoring to clients across a range of sectors, including rail.
The new UAV capability will provide aerial imagery and intelligence to support security activities, site assessments and operational planning.
“We are always looking for ways to use innovation to further enhance the quality, effectiveness and safety of our security services. Our new drone capability gives our team an additional perspective, helping us gather intelligence, identify risks and make more informed decisions” says James Coyle, Managing Director of Land Sheriffs.
The drones can be used for security and vulnerability surveys, including assessments of site boundaries and perimeter integrity. They can also help identify areas that could be vulnerable to unauthorised access or criminal activity.
Land Sheriffs will also use UAVs for line-of-route and area assessments. These operations can provide information on potential security risks, access points and infrastructure, as well as changes to operational environments.
The aerial capability can also be deployed ahead of security operations and planned events to assist with intelligence gathering and operational planning.
“Having an aerial view can provide a much more detailed picture than traditional ground-based inspections alone. It allows us to monitor large, remote or difficult-to-access areas more efficiently, while giving our teams the critical information they need to plan resources and respond appropriately” adds James.
The UAV service will also be used to support the prevention and response to trespass incidents. Drones can monitor known hotspots and vulnerable locations, providing live situational information to patrol teams and client representatives.
Where appropriate, information can also be relayed to emergency services and police.
Land Sheriffs says the use of UAVs can reduce the requirement for personnel to enter potentially hazardous or difficult environments, including remote locations, difficult terrain, unauthorised encampments and situations where there may be a risk of confrontation.
“Safety is one of the key considerations behind our new drone service. By gathering information remotely, we can reduce the exposure of our people to potentially hazardous or confrontational situations, ensuring they are only deployed when necessary and with a clearer understanding of the risks involved” says James.
Land Sheriffs states that all UAV operations will be carried out in accordance with applicable UK aviation regulations, privacy requirements, client-specific protocols and its operational procedures.
The company says its UAV pilots have been trained and authorised to conduct flights and are competent to operate the aircraft safely.
“By combining aerial intelligence with traditional security operations, we are even better positioned to protect both our personnel and our clients’ interests, enabling us to maintain the highest industry standards and deliver safer, smarter and more effective security solutions” concludes James.