Hi-tech drones aid Sharjah Police in catching criminals

Our Correspondent

Hi-tech drones that use face recognition technology have been employed by Sharjah Police to search for criminals. The drones can operate round the clock and can capture high-definition images and video footage from a long distance.
To track down a suspect, the police feed his or her photograph into a video surveillance network powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The drone camera then scans roads with crowded people, instantly analysing the faces of everyone it sees. The system helps in finding matches of wanted criminals among those in the crowd and helps the police to arrest the person.
The drones are fitted with infrared video cameras, and are also used to spot reckless drivers and thus boost road safety in Sharjah. The drones capture photos and videos of the errant vehicles, monitor the roads and find the reasons behind traffic jams and accidents. The drones are also being used to catch violators of COVID-19 safety protocols.
Sharjah Police started using drones in 2016 in the media section and then moved the devices for a wider range of operations. Traffic violations caught by the drones included driving on the hard shoulder, failure to maintain lane discipline and obstructing traffic. The drones are fitted with cameras that allow the police to read the licence plates of vehicles, spot traffic violations and detect structural faults on the roads. The drones can also be used to monitor problem areas such as zones affected by floods or other natural disasters.
Captain Saeed Bin Hada, Director of the Innovation Branch at Sharjah Police, said the drones take video footage of accidents and identify locations where there are major traffic jams. This helps the traffic patrols to clear congestion on roads faster and more efficiently. He said the drones can also take pictures of emergency situations that are sometimes inaccessible to photographers, such as at traffic and fire accidents.
During a recent fire at Abbeco Tower in Sharjah, drones helped in discovering a group of residents trapped in the burning building. The emergency team was then rushed to rescue them.