INTERPOL Prepares for Drone Response

INTERPOL Prepares for Drone Response

counter drone tech

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Recognizing the fact that drone usage increases both commercially and recreationally but also for criminal purposes in some cases, the international criminal police organization INTERPOL has launched a framework for responding to a drone incident.

In a document signed by the organization’s secretary-general, Jürgen Stock, he explains that the increasing use of drones has inevitably given rise to “serious challenges for the law enforcement community globally. Drones have become a permanent fixture in the current policing operating environment, and one that can only grow in scale and impact in the future.”

It is “crucial that officers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and training to respond to drone incidents safely and effectively.”

“INTERPOL engages with drone experts drawn from law enforcement, the private sector and academia across the world. This network was the driving force behind the creation of the INTERPOL Framework for Responding to a Drone Incident – For First Responders and Digital Forensics Practitioners.”

The organization publishes a reference document for law enforcement worldwide, illustrating INTERPOL’s continuous efforts to promote innovation and enhance best practices among its member countries. 

Jamie Allan, CEO of Allan Panthera, a commercial and business growth consultancy firm, specializing in drones, told commercialdroneprofessional.com: “For INTERPOL to be seen as a useful leader and authority for their members to begin using drones, and as effectively as possible, they need to provide the best guidance and resources.. “Consequently, for smaller operations, this document becomes the gold standard from which they can adapt to their individual needs. And it’s free! Additionally, it helps smaller operators with their incident planning because if they use this as a guide of what law enforcement will do responding to a drone incident, it subsequently allows you to prepare for that in terms of what to expect if you’re involved in any way.”

Allan, a police officer and contributor to the framework for INTERPOL, said it is critical for the organization to be proactive when it comes to an emerging technology like drones. “Contrary to some beliefs held, organizations like INTERPOL have no interest in collecting personal data or ‘snooping’ on people with drones. Consequently, their mission for proactively advancing the use of drone technology amongst their member states is to assist and enhance the capability of law enforcement to use drones for good, whether that be countering the rise in the criminal use of drones, or helping police forces with the adoption and integration of the new technology into their service delivery models as a valuable tool for day to day operationally effective policing, such as searching for missing persons.”