A drone fitted with video cameras will be flown over a British National Party gathering in Derbyshire after dozens of protesters were arrested last year.
Police are using the plane to monitor the event near Ripley on 15 and 16 August and any protesters who turn out. Last year police arrested more than 30 protesters near the site off Codner Denby Lane, but no-one was charged. Officers said it would cost "about £500,000" to police the event. The plane will be used to record evidence.
Chief Constable Mike Creedon said: "We will apply to the Home Office for special funding which is occasionally available. I'm not overly hopeful about this. Last year's costs were something in the region of £300,000. It will be significantly more this year. I would think we're pushing around half a million pounds, and that comes from a budget which is already heavily stretched."
In a statement Derbyshire police said that a pilotless drone plane would be used to record evidence at the Red, White and Blue festival. The force said: "The drone, fitted with CCTV cameras, will be used by a trained operator from the manufacturing company. It will record any incidents of disorder for evidence-gathering purposes."
It said it was not the first force in the country to use drone planes.
BBC
August 05, 2009
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11 comments:
I think this is aboslute bullshit, giving all this protection to a whites only fascist party with terrorist/far-right paramilitary friends. I think antifascists need to come out in their thousands regardless of the extra protection, there will come a time when it's going to be against the law to protest against the BNP...
Thats terrible reporting, who wrote it? Its all "protesters arrested" and makes it seem like the 'drone' is to monitor "protesters".
Someone should have a word with the papers editor
Oh do stop droning on.....
A drone will not stop us from breaking the facists so called "family event"
"Someone should have a word with the papers editor"
It's a BBC report.
You know, the "BNP Broadcasting Corporation".
"It's a BBC report.
You know, the "BNP Broadcasting Corporation"."
Certainly doesnt do us any favours, thats fer sure. BBc must have come a long way since Secret Way.
Or maybe that should be lost its way
the council and police have gone to court and got an order to stop more than 20 protesters near the site of rwb
"council/police have gone to court got an order to stop more than 20 protesters near rwb"
Same happened last year, there was what was called a "designated protest point" on Codnor Lane just up from the entrance to warners fields. There was still a procession along the round by hundreds and a rallying point near the shops. Will probably be the same this year
Hoody
Tip, everyone buy a black hoodie, scarf & wear black trousers, all look the same, whos paying for the Drone? Gri££in? the locals should demand the police don't wast their money & let us deal with the BNP,
"BBc must have come a long way since Secret Way"
I have never really understood this claim that the BBC is somehow 'left wing'. To me it's always been the mouthpiece of the establishment in the UK and nearly always does it's bidding. The BBC has always been close to MI6 in particular and HM Foreign Office funds the World Service. There have always been very far-right elements in the British Establishment and it figures that there are in the BBC also. They see having a group like the BNP around useful for the future and would want to promote and nurture them.
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