The small town of Moree, about 370 miles northwest of Sydney, has become a testing ground for modern Australian police technology. Two drones have been installed on the roof of the local police station, ready to take off within minutes, but what’s interesting is that the planes are operated entirely remotely by certified pilots in Sydney, about 370 miles away.
This comes as part of the launch of the “PolAir-rural” experiment, which will last for six months, and aims to change the way the police monitor and respond to incidents in large rural areas.
Moree, with a population of about 7,100 people, is an ideal location for the trial because of high rates of property crime, theft and vandalism, problems that have had difficulty dealing with traditional methods due to the remoteness of specialist air support and limited local resources.
Experimenting with autonomous drones
By January 2026, the first aircraft had been installed on the roof of the police station, inside a self-sufficient automated docking unit, where the aircraft could take off, carry out missions and return to recharge without the need for human field intervention. The goal of remote control aircraft is to expand the reach of air support in regional areas that typically lack this type of support.
The aircraft are monitored from a central operations center in Bankstown, where pilots follow live feeds from cameras mounted on the aircraft, and at the same time, local police receive the same visual information, increasing the speed and accuracy of the response.
According to New South Wales Police, this is the first initiative of its kind in Australia for fully remotely operated drones without a pilot at the launch site, using DJI Matrice 4-TD platforms equipped with high-resolution cameras capable of transmitting live feeds clearly and stably.
The role of aircraft in combating crime and emergencies
The aircraft are usually activated selectively during serious incidents, such as robberies, as the aircraft can provide a direct view from above within just a few minutes. Aircraft have proven effective in tracking stolen cars, reducing the need for dangerous pursuits and protecting police and the public.
The system has already helped recover many stolen cars. In one case, a vehicle stolen from a hotel was found near a river after an aircraft helped narrow the search. In another incident, two cars stolen from the home of an elderly couple were recovered with the help of air support, and those responsible for the theft were arrested.
In addition to fighting crime, the aircraft have been used in emergency situations such as local fires, where their advanced technology has helped detect fires and provide quick alerts to fire brigades. It also supported the police in cases of assault and public disturbance, providing a complete and immediate picture of the situation from the air.
