For the first time on Australian soil, drone technology will be added to the policing repertoire.
This follows an announcement by the New South Wales Police that it was officially launching PolAir-Remote – an Australian first policing aviation capability that will boost police resources in the state’s west.
PolAir-Remote – a collaboration between Aviation Command and Technology and Communication Services Command – will see remotely-piloted drones being used to assist operational police in responding to and investigating incidents.
The use of drones will allow regional police to utilise aerial assets without the need for an on-site pilot. Instead, the drones will be remotely piloted from a ‘Remote Operations Centre’ at Bankstown Airport, with real-time video being fed back to operational police.
The town of Moree in northern NSW was the first location where the drones have been installed and trialled to support frontline police in preventing, disrupting and responding to criminal activity.
The police say that since their installation on the rooftop of the Moree Police Station in early January, the two drones have been activated to coordinate successful responses and arrests for assaults, break and enters and vehicle recoveries.
The drones were first deployed following an incident in the town on Christmas Day last year, when police were called to respond to an assault case, in which a 1nineteen-year-old man allegedly struck a 23-year-old man with a machete.
In January this year, following inquiries, police got information that the accused was in the Moree area, and when they got to his location, the man fled.
“PolAir-Remote was subsequently activated and assisted in tracking down the 19-year-old man, who had jumped multiple fences and ran into several yards,” the police said in a statement.
“He was located by police and arrested before being taken to Moree Police Station, where he was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is due to face Tamworth Local Court next month.”
The drones will also assist police in providing situational awareness during public safety incidents and other emergencies, including search and rescue operations and missing people searches.
The drones the automated self-docking types supplied by DJI, and are housed in the Dock on tor rooftop, from where they launch, land and recharge.
The trial in Moree will run for six months, with the technology set to expand to other locations in the future.
“Today we’re announcing an Australian-first drone trial to strengthen policing in our regional communities - starting right here in Moree,” said Yasmin Catley, the minister for Police and Counter Terrorism, adding that community safety was the highest priority for the NSW Government, and the Government was committed to giving police the resources they need to maintain it.
“Our police have an incredibly difficult job, dealing with a complex and evolving range of issues every single day. This investment is about making their job easier and safer, so they can focus on protecting the community on the ground.
“We know there is more to do to rebuild trust after a shocking spate of incidents that left communities fearful. The NSW Government and NSW Police are doing everything possible to address that, and we will continue working to restore confidence and keep people safe.”
The police shared another instance of drone involvement, which happened on January 27 this year.
“At about 3.30am on Tuesday 27 January 2026, police were called to a house on Merindah Avenue, Moree, following reports of a break and enter,” the police said.
“Police attended and were told four males had broken into the house and allegedly assaulted two residents. Police commenced an investigation and, following inquiries, about 3pm on Wednesday 28 January 2026, with the assistance of PolAir-Remote, police attended two addresses in Moree and arrested a seventeen-year-old boy and an eighteen-year-old man.
“The boy was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-use violence, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. He is due to face a children’s court in February.”
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner for Regional NSW Field Operations Paul Pisanos APM said PolAir-Remote was a demonstration of the NSW Police’s commitment to technological advancement in policing.
“PolAir-Remote is an Australian first. This is the first time drones will be used in this capacity - where they will be remotely piloted without the need for an on-site pilot - by a police force in the country,” Pisanos said.
“The drones are an expansion of the existing aviation capabilities used across the state and will support frontline police in preventing, disrupting and responding to criminal activity in Moree.
“We have worked closely with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for the implementation of this technology and I want to thank them for their strong support.
“The trial has so far proven to be successful in tackling regional crime and giving the region a boost in operational resources.
“I want to reassure the community that PolAir-Remote will only be used for operational and investigative purposes.”
Not everybody has welcomed the drones with open arms however, with one cyber security expert in the country looking to invoke DJI’s troubles in the USA as an indicator that the drone maker should not be trusted for such key national tasks as policing.
In the USA, DJI had all its 800-strong fleet in federal government employ grounded, with the US citing national security concerns. Since DJI are a Chinese company, the USA was of the opinion that they simply held no trust in having DJI drone collect data and keep it in place where the Chinese government could easily access it.
These were the exact concerns that James Corera, the director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s (ASPI) Cyber, Technology and Security program.
“As a Chinese company, DJI is subject to laws that compel organisations to cooperate with state authorities,” Corera said.
“For example, Chinese companies are required to ‘support, assist and cooperate with state intelligence work’. This doesn’t automatically exclude Australian use of DJI products.
“But the risks of exploitation by Beijing should be considered when assessing equipment that collects high-resolution imagery, telemetry and metadata.”
Fore the record, DJI has strenuously denied the espionage allegations.