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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 8:52 pm
Time: 8:52 pm
Results for aerial surveillance
2 results foundAuthor: U.S. National Institute of Justice Title: Considerations and Recommendations for Implementing an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program Summary: In Alameda County, California, an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program has supported law enforcement in successfully monitoring crime scenes and capturing suspects on the run. While these devices have been beneficial in assisting law enforcement in a number of ways, they've also raised concerns within the community about the possibility of police violating privacy rights through aerial surveillance. Alameda County isn’t alone in this situation. Law Enforcement agencies around the country are having similar discussions within their communities as they look to take advantage of the benefits of unmanned aerial vehicles while also ensuring the rights of the public are protected. In a new report, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) covers a number of emerging issues and concerns on the use of unmanned aircraft systems by state, local, and tribal law enforcement. "Considerations and Recommendations for Implementing an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program" is based on an August 2015 convening of public safety stakeholders and aviation experts. The goal of the convening was to produce a blueprint for how law enforcement agencies can use unmanned aircraft systems most effectively, fairly, and transparently. This NIJ report highlights a number of actions that agencies can take internally and with the community as they implement a policy on unmanned aircraft systems. According to Mike O’Shea, a senior law enforcement program manager with NIJ, community acceptance is critical to just about every law enforcement initiative out there. “The transparency of what you’re doing as an agency can make a difference between whether or not the community accepts what you’re doing or doesn’t accept [it],” he said. “And in the case of unmanned aerial vehicles, one of the biggest challenges for law enforcement is getting public acceptance,” O’Shea added. With regards to engaging the community, it is recommended that agencies engage the community early on as this strategy is most effective at the beginning of the process of implementing a UAS program. Additionally, agencies are recommended to create a community advisory panel on the implementation of new technologies, such as UAS. “The public acceptance of technology is crucial to the implementation of unmanned aircraft systems,” O’Shea said. Recommendations also include that all members of the agency should be briefed on the capabilities and intended use of the technology so that there will be a common message when officials interact with the public. Promoting the responsible use of unmanned aircraft systems is critical, such that agencies using this technology have sound policies in place governing the collection, use, and retention of data, and to ensure that agencies are transparent in how they are using these systems. In terms of developing privacy policies, it’s important for an agency to fully understand the complex legal environment in which unmanned aerial vehicles operate. Furthermore, some states and localities have imposed more stringent requirements than federal law on the use of this technology by law enforcement. Unmanned aircraft systems have the potential to be a useful public safety tool, but the decision of whether and how it should be adopted is one that every law enforcement agency must make for itself, and that decision should be made in coordination with community members. These community decisions should consider privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties concerns. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only about 350 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. had aviation programs in active use. The number has remained small due to a number of factors, including the substantial cost of starting and maintaining a program, and bureaucratic hurdles needed to approve the use of such technology. But as more agencies begin to experience the benefits of unmanned aerial vehicles, O'Shea believes the use of this technology will only expand moving forward. Details: Washington, DC: NIJ, 2016. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accesses March 27, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250283.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250283.pdf Shelf Number: 144840 Keywords: Aerial SurveillanceAircraftPolice SurveillancePublic Safety |
Author: Langton, Lynn Title: Aviation Units in Large Law Enforcement Agencies, 2007 Summary: During 2007, about 1 in 5 large law enforcement agencies had a specialized aviation unit operating at least one fixedwing plane or helicopter. These 201 aviation units, located in departments of 100 or more sworn officers, employed about 3,400 persons, operated almost 900 aircraft in 46 states and the District of Columbia, and logged an estimated 363,000 flight hours. The units performed functions ranging from general operations, such as engaging in pursuits and responding to calls for service, to more specialized operations, such as homeland security, emergency medical services (EMS), special weapons and tactics (SWAT), and firefighting missions. This report is based on data from the 2007 Census of Law Enforcement Aviation Units (CLEAU), which collected information on the characteristics, expenditures, equipment, personnel, functions, and training and safety requirements of aviation units found in law enforcement agencies with 100 or more sworn officers. The CLEAU is the first nationwide study to examine the nature and extent of airborne law enforcement. Major findings from the 2007 Census of Law Enforcement Aviation Units include- - Aviation units from large departments provided aerial law enforcement coverage in 46 states and the District of Columbia. - A greater percentage of units had helicopters (88%) than planes (50%). In absolute numbers, units operated more than twice the number of helicopters (604) than planes (295). - Aviation units spent an estimated total of $300 million in 2007 on aircraft purchases, leasing and financing, and maintenance and fuel. - About two-thirds (68%) of aviation unit aircraft were acquired through outright purchase, and about a fourth (24%) were secured through a government surplus program. Approximately half of the aircraft in operation were at least 20 years old. - Aviation units logged a median of 1,100 flight hours per unit in 2007. State police units had the greatest median number of hours per unit (2,000). - In 2007, 92% of aviation units engaged in vehicle pursuits. Almost 90% of units performed counternarcotics missions, and about 80% conducted counterterrorism missions. Nearly 70% of units engaged in firefighting activities. Fewer units reported using aircraft for SWAT member insertions (36%), emergency medical response (26%), and prisoner transport (22%) (figure 1). - About half of aviation units required new pilot candidates to have law enforcement experience. Over 60% required that they hold prior pilot ratings. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 2009. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 18, 2018 at: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/aullea07.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/aullea07.pdf Shelf Number: 117089 Keywords: Aerial SurveillanceAviation UnitsPolice PatrolPolice Surveillance |