Premier League and West Midlands Police collaborate over drones at matches

Police drones are playing a "key role" in preventing disorder at Premier League football fixtures in the West Midlands, thanks to a £2m pilot.

The project, partnered with West Midlands Police (WMP), started at the end of last season and uses eye in the sky policing to give officers a greater view of what is happening outside stadiums to ensure crowd safety.

The Premier League described the pilot as "really positive" in tackling potential incidents as they occur, by deploying officers where they are needed as footage is fed into a control room in real time.

The force currently uses drones at both of the region's top flight stadiums, at Aston Villa and Coventry City, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

PCs Matt Lackie and George Howell launched the police drone high into the sky above Coventry City's home ground, the CBS Arena, before the kick-off against Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday.

The 30,000 fans making their way towards the ground were unaware they were being observed from the sky, as the drone hovers at more than 265ft (81m) above ground level.

The drones are only deployed before and after matches to ensure fans' safety, WMP says.

It was Howell's third match as a drone operator, who described them as "mobile CCTV cameras".

The officers are in constant contact with the control room at the stadium, where the inspector in charge can direct police based on intelligence and operational needs.

Insp Tom Hanna was Bronze commander for the match and in charge of the operation.

The fixture against Brighton was deemed low risk, with 29 officers assigned.

Hanna, who is based in the control room, said the drones play a key role in helping police fixtures.

"Without the drones, I wouldn't get the same level of detail, so it gives me an idea how everything's flowing," he said.

"It's about getting ahead of any potential safety and crime issues."

Claire Sumner, from the Premier League, said drones can help with crowd safety.

"This pilot will help us learn things together and strengthen that partnership between policing, our clubs and our stewards because those are the magic ingredients," she said.

"The less visible policing presence, which drones help with, is a really good thing."

The pilot is due to last until the end of the current Premier League season.

Drones to be installed at Villa Park and Molineux