South Africa may have had its first use case for drone technology application in a public tactical situation, after a local drone services company deployed to monitor striking workers at a coal mine recently.

Drone and counter-drone services provider Droneco says it learned some valuable lessons when it was contacted by one of its well-known mining clients to bring help when a group of workers set a picket line and blocked roads to the mine.

“In a country where strikes and riots can escalate rapidly, proactive security measures are crucial,” said Jaacie Visagie, Managing Director at Droneco.

“Drone surveillance has emerged as a game changer, providing real-time intelligence that helps prevent damage, protect lives, and support ground teams effectively.

“One of our clients, a well-known coal mine, faced a potential threat; which put our drone services to the test. Our skilled drone pilot manoeuvred discreetly, flying from behind the protesters without detection.

“By deploying the right drone (multirotor) and leveraging wind conditions to reduce noise, we gained valuable time to assess the situation without escalating tensions.”

Visagie added that this was a very valuable experience for his company, one of which was that deploying drones in volatile environments requires more than just technology.

“It demands a combination of expertise, compliance, and strategic planning to ensure effective and responsible operations. And some of those factors include

• Trained Drone Pilots – A drone is only as effective as its operator. Skilled pilots with security experience can assess threats, navigate complex environments, and provide actionable intelligence.
• The Right Drone Equipment – Not all drones are suited for security operations. High resolution cameras, thermal imaging, and hovering characteristics (in this scenario) helps with effective surveillance.
• Comprehensive Risk Assessments – Before any operation, a thorough risk assessment is vital to ensure safe and effective deployment. Factors such as crowd behaviour, flight restrictions, and emergency response plans must be considered.
• SACAA Compliance – Operating drones in South Africa requires adherence to South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) regulations. Compliance with airspace restrictions, pilot licensing, and safety protocols under the SACAA Part 101 is critical.
• Seamless Communication – Live drone footage is only valuable if it reaches the right people at the right time. Clear, fast communication between the drone pilot, security teams, and the client ensures rapid decision making and effective safe response strategies.”

In an unpredictable security environment, drones act as force multipliers, enhancing situational awareness and reducing risk, Visagie said.

His opinions echoed those of Kim James a security drone expert whose company, Drone Guards, had to turn down several requests for emergency eye in the sky assistance from property owners fearing for their premises at the height of the riots in July 2021.

At the time, James reckoned it would be unwise to call in the drones if no prior infrastructure had been in place to activate drone technology in case of emergency crowd problems of the magnitude seen in South Africa during that time.

“A number of security companies and role players have been in contact with us to deploy (the company drones and drone personnel) to volatile sites,” James said. “Here is an honest response… (the short answer is no).

“Can we deploy at short notice? Yes. However, consider the complexity of the mission, safety of the drone crew, availability of effective communication channels between ground crew and law enforcement in the first instance.

“(Would this be) the most effective way to deploy aerial cover?

“No.”

Now, at least there has been a recorded live use case, although we imagine the riots at this mine would pale in comparison to what engulfed South Africa in July 2021.

Aside from riots, there are more tactical situations that police and security personnel can deploy drone technology into, as part of the first response infrastructure designed to keep human resources safe.

The Police Chief online magazine listed such scenarios in one of its articles, and they include

Tactical Crisis Responses

Hostage/standoff situations can be very tense and can create extremely dangerous situations for people being held against their will by force.

Drones are used to provide overwatch of the entire scene to track activity and movement around the incident. In numerous cases, a drone has been able to see into a window and identify the number of hostages and their location.

For instance, in Virginia, USA, the York County Fire & Life Safety-Poquoson Sheriff’s drone team used tactical drones to successfully breach entry, apprehend the suspect, and rescue the hostages without any injuries.

Also, during an incident involving a standoff with the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a view of the scene via a drone revealed to the local Police Department that the standoff suspect was reaching for an AR-15 to use on police, and the threat was quickly neutralised.

SWAT and active shooter situations are extremely dangerous, and every second can determine life and death. Drones provide critical situational awareness using visual optics, zoom, and thermal imaging.

Thermal imaging helps to monitor activity during low-light or night operations by seeing human heat signatures, possibly identifying weapons, and providing other heat-related information. In areas where suspects can hide in bushes or behind walls and other obstructions, drones can be used to see these areas, providing the information needed to position officers for the safest apprehension.

In Oklahoma City, the police department used a drone to locate a suspect, avoid an ambush, and apprehend the suspect safely.

Interior room clearing by drone is one of the newer ways that can minimise unnecessary danger to officers by using the drone rather than an officer having to make entry to conduct this part of the operation. Once a person is located in a structure, the drone can be perched and monitor inside activity.

In 2022, the Dallas Police Department in Texas worked alongside the Cytta Corporation to perfect and formalise the new Drone Clear Program which is now being taught to officers around the United States.

In Georgia, the Atlanta Police Department was able to safely arrest a murder suspect last October by flying a drone into an apartment. Everything was captured on video as the suspect walked out of the apartment with his hands up.

Drug interdictions use drones for pre-entry reconnaissance to identify activity in the area and determine the location of people and vehicles. As entry teams approach, the drone can provide overwatch as the teams make entry.

In one operation, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in California used a drone during entry; suspects were fleeing out through other doors and windows — and the drone was capturing everything from its vantage point in the sky. Drugs were tossed on the roof and a gun was tossed into the bushes.

One fleeing suspect peeled off his top black shirt to leave in a pink shirt and ran through the bushes onto the sidewalk on the next block. He didn’t realize a drone was observing from above, so he was surprised to be apprehended by deputies.

Bomb threats are also unusual situations where tactical drones can be useful because they can be difficult to assess. A drone may be able to fly at a safe distance and zoom in on a suspicious package and/or use thermal imaging to identify unusual heat or potential contents. In a suspicious package situation, the combined use of a drone and a ground robot can be an effective way to safely assess the package.

Civil Unrests and Riots

Civil unrest, protests, and large events can utilise drones for overwatch and quickly identify and record outbreaks of violence or people with weapons and help to avoid pedestrian and vehicular conflicts.

Drones were very effective at the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where drone captured the moment a protester drove a gray Dodge Charger into the crowd of people on August 12, 2017, killing Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others.

A few days later on September 1, the Civil War Statue Protest in Richmond, Virginia, had three significant outcomes as shared by York County Fire Deputy Chief Chris Sadler. After a report of three men with long guns, the York County UAS Team located the men within minutes.

Next, vandalism was captured on video, and the suspects were quickly apprehended.

Sooner after, an unplanned protest march began to route across traffic, and the drone was able to predict the path of the march and provided the opportunity to quickly direct police motorcycles to prevent people-vehicle conflict.

Fortunately, no one was hurt.

In 2023, several news organisations reported that New York Police Department would be using drones to monitor activity of approximately one million people on New Year’s Eve.

Suspect pursuit

Fleeing suspects can be located more quickly by drone.

Once the suspect is located, the drone can provide overwatch and direct officers as to the direction the suspect is headed or where they may be hiding.

Drones can effectively track suspects as they traverse backyards and fenced areas with dogs or through other obstacles that might hinder human pursuits. In numerous cases, fleeing suspects have stopped and given up when they realise a drone is flying overhead.

Some have even surrendered to the drone by stopping and putting their hands above their heads as they look up at the drone.

Public Safety Surveillance

Surveillance in crime areas has also demonstrated the value of drones. As more and more property crimes, smash and grabs, and vehicle thefts are organised, drones are being positioned in high-crime areas to monitor from the sky. Numerous departments have used drones to observe crimes in progress and direct ground units to make quick arrests.

Canine operations benefit greatly from a supporting drone providing overwatch of the officer-K9 team by looking ahead from where the team is headed for signs of the suspect, but also to identify other hazards while operating at night by use of a spotlight shining down into dark areas or use of thermal camera.

When the officer is separated from their K9 partner, the drone can maintain a safe overwatch and direct the officer back to their K9 partner.

Active crime scene overwatch by drones provide an added level of safety, especially when suspects are still on the loose and threats remain. Some departments are utilising tethered drones to maintain a constant overwatch of the scene.

Tethered drones are powered through the tether, which does not require constant changing of batteries, and can provide visual optics or thermal camera views streamed live to a command officer.

Traffic Monitoring

Troublesome traffic areas use drones to monitor aggressive driver behaviour instead of placing patrol cars on the side of these dangerous, frequent crash areas.

The drone identifies the vehicle and license plate number then alerts patrol vehicles located at a safer place for stopping these aggressive drivers. While this is not technically a traditional tactical crisis response, the danger to officers from distracted driving is well documented.

Traffic crash reconstruction by drone measurements can be done in a third of the time and reduce secondary crashes to increase scene safety and restore traffic and commerce more quickly. Drone traffic crash construction can provide accuracy within one centimetre and create a 3D model that can later be used to review the crash.

Border Patrol Operations

Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) use drones to respond to ground sensors to determine if it’s an illegal border crossing or animal and quickly prevent a false response.

Border authorities in South Africa and Zimbabwe have deployed drones to help with patrol missions along their respective border, while the custom and border patrol unit in the USA indicated it has more than 600 trained remote pilots who not only monitor for illegal immigration but also to stop the transportation of drugs and human trafficking.

The unit reckons its drone program is a game changer, as the drones help to cover a larger area and can find hiding in high desert Sudan grass that cannot otherwise be detected from the ground.

Drones also enhance the safety of border patrol officers, as they have a better understanding of the situations they face in advance.