You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
![Councillor Peter Gould](/image-library/peter-gould-ws-hr-1.xb6cb8b20.jpg?width=470&height=256&fit=crop&quality=75&format=webp)
You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
In 2017, initially as multi-agency partnership, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service developed an Unmanned Aircraft System capability.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service supports other agencies, if requested, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
These agencies include:
The drone provides a range of aerial surveillance options to support the fire service and other emergency services, if requested, across a wide range of incidents, including:
The drone helps multi-agency responders make decisions about the best way to deal with an incident by improving the ability to see and understand what is happening from the air. This also helps to reduce risks to the public and emergency service workers.
Pilots must regularly fly the drone to maintain their skills, so occasionally members of the public may see pilots operating drones in their communities for this purpose. Impact on privacy will always be minimised as a key consideration of flight planning, especially during training flights.
The drone must be tested regularly in a controlled environment to make sure any problems are found and avoid a serious operational or safety issue while being used at an emergency incident.
As part of the Permission for Commercial Operations, and also as responsible SUSA operators, SFRS Air Support Unit pilots will always ensure that the drone is flown:
These form part of the Civil Aviation Authority's Drone Code. All responsible drone users will fly within these guidelines. As an Emergency Service Drone operator certain exemptions to relax these guidelines slightly are allowed (subject to Risk Assessment and command authorisation) for life-saving operations or to avert a major disaster.
The drone camera has the capability of:
A detailed Data Privacy Impact Assessment means that when flying:
Email fire.businesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk for further details about the drones in Suffolk.