British Transport Police (BTP) have launched remotely piloted drones over rail lines in Manchester to tackle trespassers who cause damage, vandalism and delays. The drones are housed in weatherproof boxes beside the railway and can be launched by pilots based in London when an incident is reported.
Seven UK sites now operational
Since the first site opened in Leeds in April 2025, four sites have been introduced across south London, along with sites in Leicester and now Manchester, making seven UK sites in total. Manchester was chosen because it is a known hotspot for trespass and disruption.
A pilot does not need to be on or near the site for the drone to take off. The drone can also be used proactively to patrol areas where intelligence suggests trespassing may be taking place.
Response times and impact
Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi said the average response time for the system since April had been three minutes and 28 seconds. She said: "The fundamental difference is that we wouldn't be able to get officers there that quick."
BTP said that between 1 April and 25 July the system conducted 550 flights across Britain, with drones typically being the first resource on scene in 68% of operational incidents. The force said drone deployments had helped to prevent an estimated 7,911 minutes of delays during the same period.
Expansion plans
BTP hopes to establish further sites in the North West as it expands the programme, although no additional locations have been announced so far. D'Orsi said: "We're going to continue to invest in the capability to ensure it's the best it possibly can be, with a planned move to a new flight operations room in London, and further sites scheduled to open in the coming months."
The Manchester site has two weatherproof boxes which house and charge the drones when they are not in use. Simon Bachelor, BTP's head of drones programme, said the system was "completely self-contained and allows us to not need officers or drone pilots near the location". He likened it to "having a resource permanently on scene".
Bachelor said one of its main benefits was being able to establish quickly whether there was someone on the railway track. Officers and railway staff may otherwise have to travel to the area and search physically, during which time trains might have to be delayed or services suspended. "If we can arrive at that point far more quickly, then we cause less disruption, and the travelling public can continue on their journeys without those delays - or with a reduced amount of delay," he said.
Rupert Lown, Group Safety, Security, Health & Environment Director at the Department for Transport Operator (DfTO), said: "The rollout of these cutting-edge drones is making a real difference to more and more customers across the network." The drones can also provide aerial support during other incidents, including lineside fires, and have been used to help locate vulnerable people.
