Brighton: Sussex Police blasted by students over new drone

Sussex Police will use the surveillance technology over Brighton seafront to let clubbers "have a safe night out" while officers keep an eye out for any wrongdoing.

But Sussex Students' Union condemned the use of drones saying it "contributes to an increasingly pervasive surveillance society".

Students walking towards The Arch nightclub during Freshers' Week (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

During a launch event outside The Arch nightclub in Brighton yesterday, Superintendent Adele Tucknott told The Argus: "We will be using it to monitor and protect vulnerable people, keep them safe in the night-time economy and catch perpetrators.

"It offers us a wider visibility than officers on foot and is just another tool in our toolbox to make sure people have a safe night out.

"It is primarily a deterrent but it can also be an evidence-gathering tool. If we can make arrests as a result of the drone, that would be great."

Superintendent Tucknott in front of the drone during a media event on the beach (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

However the students' union thinks the use of the drone could erode trust between students and the force even further as the city welcomes tens of thousands of students starting and continuing their courses at the universities this week.

A spokesman said: "It is troubling that Sussex Police are planning to deploy drones to monitor the night-time economy of Brighton, particularly during freshers' week. Such intrusive surveillance raises questions about privacy and civil liberties.

"It seems driven by stigma and stereotypes about students, will do little for public safety and may be especially alarming for those from communities which face disproportionate surveillance already.

Officers looking at a live video feed from the drone (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

"If policy-makers are concerned about student wellbeing they should invest in harm reduction approaches and strong community safety through empowering students and students' unions to look out for each other.

"Students are caring and energetic contributors to their local communities and like all members of the public should have the right to enjoy their city without surveillance.

"We call on Sussex Police to reconsider the deployment of drones to safeguard the rights and dignity of everyone in the Brighton and Hove community."

Officers operating the drone will have a bird's eye view of the city (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The venture goes beyond what police forces have typically used drones for. Previously, officers have used them for missing people searches, monitoring crime scenes and for major public events.

Read more: Police using drones with megaphones to patrol streets and catch offenders

Sussex Police now plan to use the drones for continuous surveillance over venues on and around the seafront along with monitoring the beach.

Police officers are able to fly the drone anywhere within their line of sight - provided they keep away from built up areas. In emergencies, these rules can be broken (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Superintendent Tucknott, who is also the force lead for violence against women and girls, said: "Brighton already has a really comprehensive CCTV system. This is effectively CCTV which can go anywhere. This is a prevention tool for us to keep students safe on their nights out."

Each drone weighs over 3.5 kilograms and carries a range of cameras including night vision, thermal and infrared, and operators can use a megaphone to speak with revellers or beachgoers from the sky.

Kate and Giovanni shared concerns over the use of the technology (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Business student Giovanni Favaloro, 19, said: "I'm not too happy with this. It feels a bit draconian to be filmed like this without our permission.

"Unlike CCTV which is in a fixed location, this can be used to follow you around. I don't get up to any trouble but I don't want to feel like I'm constantly being watched."

Kate Vadher, 18, said: "Why could they not just have more officers checking people are OK instead? I don't think the drone will act as a deterrent as much as they think it will."

But psychology student Polly Smith said: "The rises in spiking and sexual violence is getting so high that the police need to do what they need to do."