How British Transport Police Are Using BVLOS Drones

Routine BVLOS flying is no longer just a future goal in the UK. British Transport Police (BTP) is now flying drones beyond visual line of sight as part of everyday policing across the rail network. Here's how it works and what it means for the wider industry.

What BTP has launched

In September 2026, BTP and BT Business announced routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations across Britain's rail network. BVLOS means flying a drone further than the pilot can see it. BTP is the first UK police force to routinely fly BVLOS drones as part of day-to-day policing, rather than only in emergencies or trials.

The setup includes:

• Seven drone-in-a-box stations at locations across the network, with plans to grow to up to 14 sites within two years
• Remote operation from BTP's operations centre at London Bridge
• BT Drone SIM, which uses the EE mobile network for command-and-control (the link the pilot uses to control the drone) and real-time ultra-high-definition (UHD) video

Why the rail network needs it

Britain's railway covers more than 20,000 miles, and BTP recorded more than 19,300 trespass incidents in 2023/2024. That's around one every 30 minutes. Getting officers to remote sections of track quickly is a real challenge.

With drones based at strategic points on the network, BTP can launch a flight remotely and get eyes on a trespass incident, welfare concern or operational disruption, often before officers arrive. That means faster decisions, safer responses and less disruption for passengers.

How drone-in-a-box works

A drone-in-a-box is a docking station that houses, charges and launches a drone automatically. Operators can deploy the drone remotely, fly a mission and bring it back to the dock without anyone on site. Paired with reliable connectivity, this makes BVLOS operations from a central control room practical. Systems such as the DJI Dock 3, available from Coptrz, are already bringing this kind of remote, automated capability to organisations across the UK.

FAQs

What has the British Transport Police launched?

Routine BVLOS drone operations across the UK rail network, flown remotely from drone-in-a-box stations.

How are the drones controlled?

They're flown remotely from BTP's operations centre at London Bridge, using BT Drone SIM over the EE mobile network.

What is a drone-in-a-box?

A docking station that houses, charges and launches a drone automatically, so operators can fly missions remotely.

Final thoughts

Interested in remote drone operations? Explore the DJI Dock 3 at Coptrz.