Lincolnshire Police to invest in new pair of eyes to combat rural crime

Lincolnshire Police are to use a hi-tech drone to help tackle rural crime
Lincolnshire Police are to use a hi-tech drone to help tackle rural crime

Rural crime in Lincolnshire is set to have a new pair of eyes as Lincolnshire Police announce plans to deploy a drone.

The hi-tech drone will be deployed later this year as part of a new drive to tackle rural crime which has blighted the county.

Equipped with a thermal imaging camera, it will be able to provide pictures and video from hard to reach terrain including woodland and the coast and find missing people faster than on foot.

The unmanned aerial vehicle will be trialled as part of a new Rural Community Safety Plan, and pending the Civil Aviation Authority’s blessing should be operational by August, before a force-wide roll out later in the year.

Around £16,000 is being invested to get the first drone operational.

PCC Marc Jones said: “Drones will give our force new capabilities in combatting crime and protecting our communities and residents. Since taking office I have been determined to equip the force with the best available kit to help them keep all our communities safe. This is an exciting step on that journey but that drive will continue.”

The farming industry is rallying around the next Government to take action on the 'blight' of rural crime hitting the UK recently.