FOI 498/25 Drones, Helicopter and Collisons

Date: 28/05/2025

Enquiry Reference: FOI 498-25                                                                                

 

I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request.  Below is your request and our response.

 

Does your police force operate a drone program?

1. a) Yes

-           For each year between 2020 and 2024 how many drones has your police force operated?

In April 2020 we had 3 drones

In April 2021 we had 4 drones

In April 2022 we had 9 drones

In April 2023 we had 9 drones

In April 2024 we had 13 drones

 

-           How much money has been invested in your police forces drone program, for each year between 2020 and 2024?

-           Do you have a designated drone department or are they allocated to individual officers?

1. a) No

-           Is drone training implemented internally or externally?

1. a) Both

-           How much does it cost to train a drone pilot and how many hours does this take?

1. a) The initial external course is approximately £1000 per pilot. 

-           What changes are planned within your police force to better integrate drones in front line policing?

1. a) Information is defined in section 84 of the Act as 'information recorded in any form'. The Act therefore only extends to requests for recorded information. Explanations, clarifications or comments on the public authority’s business is not a valid question.

 

-           Does your police force have future aspirations to operate drones as first a responder in line with future legislative changes?

1. a) Information is defined in section 84 of the Act as 'information recorded in any form'. The Act therefore only extends to requests for recorded information. Explanations, clarifications or comments on the public authority’s business is not a valid question.

 

-           Does your police force share information with other police forces regarding their drone programs, and its future integration?

1. a) We have regular meetings with neighbouring Forces.

 

 

EMPASS / Helicopters:

-           Does your police force own its own deployable helicopter or use EMPASS / similar program?

-           For each year between 2020 and 2024, how many times did your police force deploy the helicopter?

-           How much did your police force spend on EMPASS / internal helicopter programs for each year between 2020 and 2024?

There is no such thing as a force helicopter.  Each helicopter is owned and operated by NPAS.

However, the main issue is that each helicopter will cover a number of forces at once.  We also regularly move helicopters around to different bases.  So, for example a helicopter which was in Wakefield one week was in Wales the following week, covering different forces. We also use fixed wing to respond to some requests which is a national asset. Further information is available via the below link:

www.npas.police.uk

 

Vehicles - For each year between 2020 and 2024:

 

-           How many of your police forces vehicles have been involved in road traffic collisions?

1. a) 401

-           How much has this cost your force in repairs / replacement vehicles?

517220. a) £517220.40

-           What % of your front-line officers are response driver trained (Yankee or golf using Avon and Somerset terms).

28. a) As of 28.4.25 – 71% of response/neighbourhood officers are trained.

 

-           What is the cost of training a response driver?

300. a) - £5,300.00 Per student

 

-           How many hours / days does the course take?

1. a) 15 days.

-           Is this training delivered internally or externally?

1. a) Internally.

 

Having made enquiries within the Force above is all the information we hold. 

 

The Cleveland Police response to your request is unique and it should be noted that Police Forces do not use generic systems or identical procedures to capture and record data therefore responses from Cleveland Police should not be used as a comparison with any other force response you receive.

 

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice

 

Yours sincerely

Information Rights Decision Maker