Australian police test station-based drones 370 miles away from target site

Australian police are conducting a six-month trial called PolAir-rural in Moree, a small town about 370 miles northwest of Sydney, to test remotely operated drones for law enforcement over vast rural areas. Two DJI Matrice 4-TD drones are stationed on the Moree police roof but are piloted remotely from a centralized control hub in Bankstown, Sydney. This marks the first instance in Australia of fully remote drone operations without on-site pilots. The drones stream high-resolution live video to both the control center and local officers, enabling rapid aerial surveillance and improved situational awareness. The initiative aims to address Moree’s high rates of property crime and the challenges posed by long distances and limited local resources. The drones are deployed selectively during serious incidents such as break-ins, vehicle thefts, assaults, and public disturbances. They have already helped recover stolen vehicles by tracking movements from above, reducing the need for dangerous high-speed pursuits. Additionally, the drones assist emergency responders by detecting local fires early and