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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police play down spy planes idea | Police play down spy planes idea |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| Police have played down reports that spy planes could be flown high above the streets of Merseyside as a way to fight anti-social behaviour. | Police have played down reports that spy planes could be flown high above the streets of Merseyside as a way to fight anti-social behaviour. |
| Merseyside Police's new anti-social behaviour (ASB) task force is exploring a number of technology-driven ideas. | Merseyside Police's new anti-social behaviour (ASB) task force is exploring a number of technology-driven ideas. |
| But while the use of surveillance drones is among them, they would be a "long way off", police said. | But while the use of surveillance drones is among them, they would be a "long way off", police said. |
| The squad's aim is to use any criminal or civil law available to help curb anti-social behaviour. | |
| A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "The idea of the drone is a long way off, but it is about exploring all technological possibilities to support our war on crime and anti-social behaviour. | A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "The idea of the drone is a long way off, but it is about exploring all technological possibilities to support our war on crime and anti-social behaviour. |
| I wouldn't say Merseyside is any better or worse than any other urban area Chris Case, Merseyside Fire Service | I wouldn't say Merseyside is any better or worse than any other urban area Chris Case, Merseyside Fire Service |
| "What we have got here and now is a new task force using all legislation available to it, to stop the misery of anti-social behaviour, which is something that affects communities up and down the country." | "What we have got here and now is a new task force using all legislation available to it, to stop the misery of anti-social behaviour, which is something that affects communities up and down the country." |
| The force said its ASB taskforce, launched last week, was the first of its kind in the UK. | The force said its ASB taskforce, launched last week, was the first of its kind in the UK. |
| The 137-strong squad features officers from all policing disciplines together with fire officers and lawyers. | The 137-strong squad features officers from all policing disciplines together with fire officers and lawyers. |
| Powers include seizing uninsured cars, evicting criminal families and issuing Asbos (Anti-social behaviour orders). | Powers include seizing uninsured cars, evicting criminal families and issuing Asbos (Anti-social behaviour orders). |
| It plans to utilise the latest law enforcement technology, including automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), CCTV "head-cams" and metal-detecting gloves. | It plans to utilise the latest law enforcement technology, including automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), CCTV "head-cams" and metal-detecting gloves. |
| 'Alternative approach' | 'Alternative approach' |
| There will also be low-level surveillance and other methods of intelligence-gathering. | There will also be low-level surveillance and other methods of intelligence-gathering. |
| Senior officers have described the new initiative as an "Al Capone" approach to so-called yob behaviour. | Senior officers have described the new initiative as an "Al Capone" approach to so-called yob behaviour. |
| Chris Case, group manager of Merseyside Fire Service, said drones were just one of the ideas being considered. | Chris Case, group manager of Merseyside Fire Service, said drones were just one of the ideas being considered. |
| "It is just one thing we are looking at. It has been used to great effect in the US," he said. | "It is just one thing we are looking at. It has been used to great effect in the US," he said. |
| "This 'Al Capone' approach is driving it. We will have many, many legal means to tackle this problem. We have a host of powers. It is a new alternative approach, where nothing is being ruled out. | "This 'Al Capone' approach is driving it. We will have many, many legal means to tackle this problem. We have a host of powers. It is a new alternative approach, where nothing is being ruled out. |
| "Anti-social behaviour is a problem all over the UK. I wouldn't say Merseyside is any better or worse than any other urban area." | "Anti-social behaviour is a problem all over the UK. I wouldn't say Merseyside is any better or worse than any other urban area." |