As the people of Swindon enjoy a night out this festive season, a drone will often be keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.
Wiltshire Police is using the technology as part of Project Vigilant, an operation which focuses on tackling violence against women.
The drone will be flown over key areas, such as Swindon's Old Town, to look out for suspicious behaviour.
Det Insp Troy Smith said: "It's pretty much the same as a helicopter, but a lot smaller. We want to make our streets a hostile environment for sexual predators. Women have the right to enjoy their nights out untroubled by these individuals."
A drone pilot is able to watch what the drone is seeing through a camera and report suspicious behaviour to officers on the ground.
Det Insp Smith added: "Women have the right to feel safe when they are out and about in the night time economy, so we target the suspect rather than change the behaviour of potential victims."
This winter is the first time drones have been used to tackle violence against women in Wiltshire.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd74rdw90xjo
img: AI generated - Midjourney
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