Drone & AI CCTV
Case reference FOI2026/01938
Received 12 August 2026
Published 9 September 2026
Request
AI CCTV Please confirm whether the council currently operates, or has operated during the last 12 months, any CCTV or video surveillance systems which incorporate artificial intelligence.
If yes, please provide:
The supplier/vendor and product name of each system. A list of the AI-enabled or automated capabilities available within each system.
Which of those capabilities are currently enabled and operational.
Drone usage
Please confirm whether the council has owned, leased, operated, or contracted the use of any drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the last 12 months for enforcement, regulatory, compliance, investigative, community safety, anti-social behaviour, environmental crime, planning enforcement, parking enforcement, or similar monitoring or evidential purposes.
If yes, please provide: The number of drones operated by, or on behalf of, the council.
The model name(s) and supplier(s). The purpose(s) for which the drones are used.
Whether any drones are allocated to specific functions or teams.
Whether the drones incorporate AI, automated analytics, object detection, facial recognition, thermal imaging or similar image-analysis capabilities.
Which of those capabilities are technically available and which are currently enabled.
A brief description of how drone deployments are authorised and conducted.
Whether drones are deployed routinely for patrols, or only in response to specific incidents, reports, investigations, inspections, or other identified needs.
Whether deployment logs are maintained and, if so, the categories of information routinely recorded within those logs.
Whether drone imagery, footage, or other data may be shared with police forces and, if so, under what circumstances.
Whether any drones are operated by contractors or other organisations on behalf of or in partnership with the council and, if so, the name of the organisation(s).
If any part of this request is considered likely to exceed the cost limit under section 12 of the Act, please provide any information that can be supplied within the limit and advise how the remainder of the request could be refined.
Response
AI CCTV
Please confirm whether the council currently operates, or has operated during the last 12 months, any CCTV or video surveillance systems which incorporate artificial intelligence.
If yes, please provide:
The supplier/vendor and product name of each system.
A list of the AI-enabled or automated capabilities available within each system.
Which of those capabilities are currently enabled and operational.
Answer: Herefordshire Council are not using facial recognition technology or AI video analytics within the County CCTV Service.
Drone usage
Please confirm whether the council has owned, leased, operated, or contracted the use of any drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the last 12 months for enforcement, regulatory, compliance, investigative, community safety, anti-social behaviour, environmental crime, planning enforcement, parking enforcement, or similar monitoring or evidential purposes.
Answer: Yes.
If yes, please provide:
The number of drones operated by, or on behalf of, the council.
Answer: 5
The model name(s) and supplier(s).
Answer: Please see table below.
|
Model |
|
Matrice 400 |
|
Zenmuse L3 (sensor) |
|
Mini 3 Pro Multirotor |
|
DJI Mini 5 Pro Multirotor |
|
DJI Mini 5 Pro Multirotor |
|
Maveric 3T |
3 models purchased through Coptrz. Other supplier data unknown
The purpose(s) for which the drones are used.
Answer: Environmental incident investigation. Trading Standards investigation & occasionally checking for required repairs on Council owned buildings,Highways & maintenance, inspections / repairs, Homelessness & Outreach teams to assist with welfare.
Whether any drones are allocated to specific functions or teams.
Answer: Please see the table below.
|
Team |
Make |
Model |
|
Public Realm + Highways |
DJI |
Matrice 400 |
|
Public Realm + Highways |
DJI |
Zenmuse L3 (sensor) |
|
EHTS |
DJI |
Mini 3 Pro Multirotor |
|
EHTS |
DJI |
DJI Mini 5 Pro Multirotor |
|
EHTS |
DJI |
DJI Mini 5 Pro Multirotor |
|
Housing |
DJI |
Maveric 3T |
Whether the drones incorporate AI, automated analytics, object detection, facial recognition, thermal imaging or similar image-analysis capabilities.
Answer: All incorporate object detection hardware / software for the purpose of flight safety. No AI, facial recognition, thermal imaging or similar image analysis all models, except for the Maveric 3T which has thermal capability only.
Which of those capabilities are technically available and which are currently enabled.
Answer: Object detection (all)
Thermal Imaging (Maveric 3T)
A brief description of how drone deployments are authorised and conducted.
Answer: Deployments are included on the Herefordshire Council website if required. Deployments are carried out in accordance to requirements and in accordance to flight SOP’s, risk assessment, hazard awareness and health & safety policy.
Whether drones are deployed routinely for patrols, or only in response to specific incidents, reports, investigations, inspections, or other identified needs.
Answer: Drones aren’t deployed routinely for patrols but may do so if required. Drone usage is carried out when investigating and or other identified needs.
Whether deployment logs are maintained and, if so, the categories of information routinely recorded within those logs.
Answer: Deployment logs are maintained to include, flight date, time, location, reason for flight, duration, weather conditions, temperature, battery condition.
Whether drone imagery, footage, or other data may be shared with police forces and, if so, under what circumstances.
Answer: Drone photos / video may be shared with the Police for the appropriate reason / need & for the detection and prevention of crime.
Whether any drones are operated by contractors or other organisations on behalf of or in partnership with the council and, if so, the name of the organisation(s).
Answer: Highways & Public Realm (M Group).
If any part of this request is considered likely to exceed the cost limit under section 12 of the Act, please provide any information that can be supplied within the limit and advise how the remainder of the request could be refined.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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