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Kent Police’s use of drones has soared by 281% in five years as the force continues to use the latest technologies to keep people safe.
In 2020, the remote-controlled aircrafts were deployed 262 times to help officers with a variety of tasks like searching for missing people and wanted offenders. This figure has risen annually since then and last year they were used 999 times.
So far in 2025, there have already been nearly 500 drone deployments by teams from across Kent Police, including the Roads Policing Unit, Rural Task Force, Special Constabulary, Tactical Firearms Unit and local neighbourhood officers.
“Drones have proven to be a cost-effective and efficient tool for supporting officers on the ground and ultimately helping to protect the people of Kent.
“By increasing the number of trained drone pilots and our use of this technology over the last several years, we have also improved our ability to find vulnerable missing people, outstanding suspects and stolen property, and help to secure positive outcomes for victims and witnesses.
“They will continue to be an invaluable resource for officers for generations to come, working in tandem with more traditional assets such as police dogs and search and rescue teams to further improve the service we provide to the public.”
Kent Police Chief Superintendent Simon Alland.
Last year, a total of 43 missing people were found by Kent Police drone pilots, who also helped to locate 66 suspected criminals. Had a helicopter been used to respond to each of the 999 incidents instead then it would have cost the force around an additional £1.5m.
For more information about Kent Police’s use of drones, visit the force’s drones page.
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