• Australian police test station-based drones 370 miles away from target site for rapid response Australian policing is testing a new model of aerial response in regional New South Wales. • A small outback town roughly 370 miles northwest of Sydney is quietly becoming a proving ground for a new chapter in Australian policing. • In Moree, two drones now sit mounted on the roof of the local station, ready to deploy within minutes. • The twist: they are flown by certified pilots based nearly 370 miles away in Sydney. • The initiative marks the launch of PolAir-rural, a six-month trial aimed at reshaping how law enforcement monitors and responds to incidents across vast rural distances. • Home to about 7,100 residents, Moree has struggled with elevated rates of property crime, theft and break-ins, making it a practical test site for remote aerial support.
Article Summaries:
- Australian police are piloting a remote‑drone system in the rural town of Moree, New South Wales, as part of the six‑month PolAir‑rural trial. Two DJI Matrice 4‑TD drones are mounted on the station roof and can launch, fly, land and recharge autonomously. Certified pilots in Sydney, 370 miles away, control the aircraft from a central hub, streaming live video to both the control room and local officers. The system is intended to improve rapid response to serious incidents, aid vehicle recovery and support emergency operations such as fire surveillance. Early reports indicate the drones have helped locate stolen cars and provide real‑time aerial intelligence to field units.
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