Norrköping is set to become the first city in Police Region East to deploy police drones stationed on rooftops for rapid emergency response, according to police announcements. The remotely controlled drones will be strategically placed on rooftops throughout the city's urban area and can be deployed within minutes of receiving an emergency call.
Peter Holmstedt, head of the camera technology group in Police Region East, stated in a press release that the drones will provide aerial surveillance just minutes after serious incidents such as shootings or accidents occur. "We will get eyes from the air just a couple of minutes after a serious incident has occurred in Norrköping's urban area," Holmstedt said.
We will get eyes from the air just a couple of minutes after a serious incident has occurred in Norrköping's urban area
The drones will be controlled from a police camera surveillance center and are designed to provide a quick situational assessment before the first patrol arrives on scene. According to police, this aerial support can help gather crucial information about the scene and determine the necessary resources required.
The deployment method has previously been tested with success in both Malmö and Helsingborg, where Malmö became the first in Europe with rooftop "airports" for police drones. Frida Braf, local police area chief in Norrköping, emphasized the importance of continuously developing technical capabilities to prevent, detect, and investigate crimes, noting that drones will become a valuable tool for police officers in their work against organized crime in Norrköping.