In anticipation of new legislation permitting their use, the Gardaí have invested €250,000 in drone technology over the recent years. They have procured 21 drones of diverse kinds that are currently on trial by the Garda Air Support Unit personnel. The soon-to-be-implemented legislation will allow the Garda to utilise the drones in policing practices such as surveillance, locating missing individuals, and investigating crime and accident locations.
These drones could also be helpful in controlling crowds and recognising perpetrators during disruptions. Once the impending legislation is in action, drone-captured footage might be paired with facial recognition technology during serious crimes investigations.
Last year, the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was passed, bestowing the Garda with the right to use recording tools like body cameras and drones, officially known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The implementation of this law is pending, awaiting the creation of a corresponding code of conduct.
Preparing for this incoming legislation, An Garda Síochána has allotted €250,152 on drones since 2019, with the bulk of the expenditure (€163,582) made in 2020. These figures came to light via the Freedom of Information Act. Details about the models of drones purchased were not disclosed by the Garda, due to the potential negative implications for national security and potential risks from severe criminals.
According to an officer for freedom of information, disclosing such details could enable criminal factions to accrue knowledge about An Garda Síochána’s capabilities, possibly hampering its functioning capacity. Regardless, it is believed that a broad array of drones, including large ones suited for prolonged operations and surveillance, are being tested. Smaller drones aimed at crime scene and accident investigators to examine scenes are being considered.
As of now, ten members of the Garda Air Support Unit have been trained in drone operation, a number set to rise once the legislation comes into being and the Garda initiates a comprehensive drone procurement initiative.
The Aerial Assistance Division, also known as the Garda Helicopter Department, is headquartered at the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell, Dublin. The department is regulated by Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, who specialises in organised and serious crime.
Presently, the unit is conducting experimentation with a variety of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), while they await the enactment of new drone-related legislation. As part of the exploratory process, the An Garda Síochána has procured 21 drones, with the intention of potentially utilising them in future operations, according to a department spokesperson.
Additionally, a dedicated Garda working group is currently investigating the wider potential capabilities and applications of drone usage in law enforcement operations.