BT Business is enabling the next generation of policing with British Transport Police (BTP) becoming the first police force to routinely operate national Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drones as part of day-to-day police operations.
Delivered using BT’s Drone SIM solution and supported by EE’s mobile connectivity, the service is helping officers respond more quickly to incidents across Britain’s rail network while establishing a new operating model for policing.
Operating across more than 20,000 miles of railway, BTP faces the challenge of responding rapidly to incidents including trespass, welfare concerns and operational disruption, many of which occur in remote locations. During 2023/24, more than 19,300 trespass incidents were recorded across the rail network, equivalent to around one every 30 minutes.
Traditionally, officers have often needed to travel significant distances before assessing a situation, delaying operational decisions. To address this challenge, BT and BTP have developed a Drone as First Responder capability that enables drones to be launched remotely from strategically located drone-in-a-box stations and piloted from BTP’s operations centre in London Bridge.
BTP currently operates seven drone-in-a-box locations across the rail network and plans to expand this to up to 14 sites over the next two years.
Using BT’s Drone SIM, which operates on the EE mobile network, operators can maintain command-and-control connectivity and stream real-time UHD video, even beyond Wi-Fi coverage and in complex environments. This provides live aerial intelligence and supports faster operational decision-making.
The technology enables officers and rail operators to gain situational awareness before personnel arrive on site, improving decision-making, enhancing officer safety and helping to reduce disruption for passengers.
“From emergency services to national infrastructure, BT plays a vital role in keeping the UK connected and protected,” Sian Penny, Public Safety & Justice Director at BT, said. “We’ve built on that experience in our work with the British Transport Police, unlocking practical new uses for drone technology, underpinned by the secure, resilient connectivity that critical services require. Together we’re delivering clear benefits for both passengers and rail operators, by giving officers real-time intelligence, improving safety and helping the rail network respond more quickly when incidents occur.”
“As the first UK police force to routinely operate BVLOS drones as part of day-to-day policing, we are transforming the way we respond to incidents across the rail network,” Simon Bachelor, Head of Drones Programme, British Transport Police, added. “Real-time aerial intelligence enables our teams to assess situations faster, deploy resources more effectively and improve safety for both officers and the public. This collaboration with BT demonstrates how innovation can support more efficient policing while helping to minimise disruption for passengers and rail operators.”
BT said the project forms part of its wider work to support advanced drone operations across sectors including transport, law enforcement and public safety, providing the connectivity required for mission-critical deployments.
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