In any jurisdiction, it is important for the police force to stay ahead of the game. And traditional policing everywhere is being revolutionized by drone (also known as unmanned aerial vehicle) technology.

It is enhancing law enforcement operations, increasing community safety, and providing surveillance (hence deterrence) in areas where crimes such as burglary and vehicle theft are rife.

The use of drones enables the police to cover larger areas with fewer officers, and response times are faster. Aerial tools are invaluable in search and rescue efforts in remote areas and can facilitate the tracking of suspects. They can also increase the safety of officers, by providing reconnaissance in potentially dangerous environments.

In Australia, for example, police departments are integrating drone technology into their operations, and drones are seen as “force multipliers”. With the police facing unique challenges with limited resources, drones have enabled them to stay ahead of the game. They are being increasingly relied upon in areas such as AI-enhanced surveillance, with artificial intelligence not only conducting surveillance but also analyzing real-time data and making predictive assessments to guide police responses.

In Canada, the police forces have been using “off-the-shelf” drones for many years. Last September, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a tender for long-range devices that can reach remote crime scenes (and other incidents) well before the officers arrive. It is intended that they will transmit video, thermal imaging, and other data back to their base in real time. Whereas officers are often hampered by traffic or ground conditions, drones can fly directly to the location, in good time.

In the United Kingdom, police forces regularly use drones equipped with high-definition cameras, night vision or thermal imaging capacity (some also record sound). They are used for checking major incidents and events, traffic management, missing people searches, monitoring crime scenes, and surveilling criminal suspects.

In 2023, the UK’s Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Professor Fraser Sampson, said “Modern drones are small, stealthy, and highly capable information-gathering tools that can reach places that officers and other equipment cannot.”

However, he also struck a cautionary note, based on data security and accountability concerns. Having described drones as a “useful tool in police efforts to detect and deter crime”, he said, “Like any potentially intrusive technology that can be used to watch and collect information about people, there must be consistent good practice, sensible controls, and ethical oversight in relation to how they are used.”  

When it comes to drone technology, nobody can accuse Hong Kong of being a slouch, and its record more than bears scrutiny.

By any yardstick, the development of drone technology heralds a new era for local law enforcement. It will enhance police efficiency and responsiveness, and provide the community with greater protection. Hong Kong has fully recognized its potential, and this will reinforce the city’s credentials as one of the safest places in the world to live, work, and visit

On Dec 11, the secretary for security, Chris Tang Ping-keung, told the Legislative Council that, having regard to their operational needs, the disciplined services and auxiliary services were equipped with drone technology, which was becoming “increasingly common”. He said the Security Bureau was “actively encouraging and supporting” its use, in order to “facilitate and enhance the delivery of various tasks”.

Those tasks include crime detection and investigation, beat patrolling and crime prevention, maintaining public safety and order, crowd control and traffic management, rescue operations, firefighting, and management of prisons and detention facilities.  

Tang explained that drones equipped with high-resolution cameras had been deployed to “crime black spots” (and elsewhere) to collect evidence and detect suspicious activities.  

Whereas the Fire Services Department created its “Unmanned Aircraft System Team” in 2017, the Hong Kong Police Force formally established its “Force Drone Cadre” in October 2024. Altogether the disciplined services have approximately 800 advanced drone operators registered with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD).

Looking ahead, Tang foresaw an increased use of drone technology, with the civil aviation legislation being updated in phases. He envisaged an “automatic patrol system”, conducted by police drones, with plans under consideration to allow the devices to patrol designated routes. This involved relaxing the rule that required a drone operator to be able to see it at all times during a flight (Small Unmanned Aircraft Order).

Tang said once the images transmitted by the drone patrol were received, they would be analyzed “using artificial intelligence”.

Moreover, whereas advanced drone operators can currently only fly a device weighing 7 to 25 kilograms (the weight limit), he said this would be raised to 150 kilograms. A new “dedicated” law covering devices weighing over 150 kilograms would also be considered.

Once the CAD began to relax the existing restrictions, Tang gave the assurance that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government would, with an eye on good practice, study the regulations and standards in other places, including the Chinese mainland, Australia and Canada. Also, “so as to protect the privacy of the public”, the government would ensure that drone operations complied with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (which must have particularly reassured the privacy commissioner and human rights observers).

The use of drone technology in policing will undoubtedly increase in the next few years, and the police (and other law enforcement agencies) require practical guidance. As Professor Sampson has explained, if such guidance is available, it places drone usage “on a firmer footing”. Therefore, when the government examines other jurisdictions, it will need to learn from the specific advice they provide to their law enforcement agencies on drone technology.

In Hong Kong, there needs to be guidance on a broad range of issues, covering everything from acquiring drone technology via trustworthy companies and effective oversight to mitigating drone-specific security risks (including hacking and the use of counter-drone technology).    

By any yardstick, the development of drone technology heralds a new era for local law enforcement. It will enhance police efficiency and responsiveness, and provide the community with greater protection. Hong Kong has fully recognized its potential, and this will reinforce the city’s credentials as one of the safest places in the world to live, work, and visit.

The author is a senior counsel and law professor, and was previously the director of public prosecutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.