Finnish police trial remote-controlled drones for crime scenes

Finnish police in Kouvola have deployed a remote-controlled drone on the roof of the main police station as part of a pilot project with the Police University College, Yle reports.

The drone, operated by an officer at the police situation center, can reach a crime scene within minutes to transmit live video before patrol units arrive. Unlike existing police drones, it does not require officers to be on-site.

Chief Superintendent Jukka Lankinen of the Southeast Finland Police said the drone can be used for documenting crime scenes, searches, and area surveillance. In cases such as an assault at Kouvola’s travel center, the drone could be dispatched quickly to guide officers to the suspect’s location.

The drone is stored in a box on the station roof, accessible remotely from the situation center. A second drone is being tested at the Police University College in Tampere.

Chief Superintendent Asko Sartanen, chair of the pilot’s steering group, said the drone primarily improves situational awareness and officer safety by providing advance information on incidents.

The trial, set to run at least until the end of the year, will gather feedback to assess the drones’ effectiveness. Lankinen expects remote-controlled drones to become standard in police work, potentially expanding to all stations.