Police used a drone to track down a missing person from Nuneaton during the first week of a trial of the technology.

Officers in Warwickshire revealed that they were planning to use the technology last October - with a trial planned to gauge public support and value for money.

That trial started recently, with drones being deployed to a wide variety of incidents across the Warwickshire and West Mercia force areas.

And on February 2, when a man went missing from his home in Nuneaton, police sent out their eye in the sky out to help.

The missing person was found by officers and has since been reunited with his family.

Insp Damian Sowrey, who is overseeing the trial, said: “During the trial drones will be used in two ways - they may be deployed to an incident as a resource to assist or they may be used in a pre-planned operation for example to help manage public safety at an event.

“During the first week of the trial despite challenging wet and windy weather conditions, the drone has helped us gather evidence by taking aerial photographs of road traffic collisions and also assisted officers search an area by providing an aerial view that can be viewed from the ground.”

Police Community Support Officer Andy Steventon, who is a trained small unmanned aircraft pilot for the police, demonstrates the use of 'drones' at Warwickshire Police HQ, Leek Wootton
PCSO Andy Steventon, who is a trained small unmanned aircraft pilot for Warwickshire Police

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The drone was used for the first time on January 25 to try and track down someone who had been in a car accident and left their vehicle.

The occupant later rang the police to confirm that he was ok.

It was used for the same purpose on February 3 following a crash and the following day to find a driver after a stolen car crashed near Bromsgrove.

Demonstration of drones at Warwickshire Police HQ
Demonstration of drones at Warwickshire Police HQ

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Insp Sowrey added “Whilst there are a lot of benefits to the use of drones, we are keen to reassure the public that their safety is of paramount importance at all times.

Policies and procedures have been put in place to ensure that air operations using these small drones are carried out safely, ethically and in accordance with relevant CAA regulations.”

Each drone is controlled by a fully trained operator who has physical responsibility for the direction and control of the aircraft.

A second person r is responsible for operating the photographic equipment attached to the device.