Police to use ‘speed camera in the sky’ to catch dangerous drivers across London

A MILITARY-GRADE drone is set to help police catch dangerous drivers across the streets of London.

And the flying device can use night vision to track down speeding Brits.

Metropolitan Police announced this week it will use the £80,000 drone to target motorists breaking the law in the capital.

Once a suspect has been spotted using the drone, the information will be sent to police on the ground who can intercept the vehicle and issue a driving offence.

The Aaeryon Skyranger drone features night vision and zoom lenses, which were originally developed for tactical surveillance in war zones.

Unlike other drones, it will be able to follow vehicles for up to 50 minutes at a top speed of 30mph.

But according to Scotland Yard, the technology will only be used to catch drivers who endanger other people’s lives, rather than those who slightly go over the speed limit.

The drone will be used on main routes coming into London, including the A10 in Enfield where eight people have been killed in the past two years.

More than 60 people have been killed on London roads this year, according to recent figures, with eight deaths in five days last week.

French police have used a similar drone since 2017 to catch up to 20 vehicles an hour who are driving dangerously.

Detective Superintendent Andy Cox, head of the Met’s roads and traffic policing unit, said: “This is one of many enforcement tactics being used.

“Its aim is to deter dangerous driving and we hope the message of ‘drive lawfully, stay safe and keep a clean licence’ is widely understood.

“However, deterrence is sometimes best achieved through intense enforcement and that’s what this capability enables.”