PUTRAJAYA: For security reasons, only the police are allowed to use drones for aerial monitoring and photography during gatherings, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said everyone else, including media organisations, were prohibited from using these gadgets during gatherings.

The police would use drones to monitor the movement of the participants of any gathering and to record facial images where necessary, he told a press conference after launching the ‘Eye in the Sky’ initiative of the police to provide live traffic reports.

Khalid said the use of drones in monitoring began at the end of last year.

At the moment, the use of drones was confined to the Klang Valley, where gatherings usually took place, but it would be extended to the other states according to need, he said.

Khalid said that for more efficient use of drones, the police force was training 12 officers and men in all aspects of handling the gadgets.

The force was also looking into the standard operating procedure on the use of the gadgets which had become a part of the police air unit.

The police now had four drones and the number would be increased after the officers and men in training had acquired the expertise to handle the gadgets, he said.

On another matter, Khalid said the police were training school traffic wardens on the safety of school children following frequent accidents involving students and pupils in the vicinity of schools.

“We have recommended to the Education Ministry to use the services of auxiliary police personnel for traffic control and this was in the discussion stage,” he said.

On the ‘Eye in the Sky’, Khalid said the programme, in collaboration with the Star Media Radio Group, enabled the police to disseminate latest information on the traffic situation and advise on alternative routes directly to listeners and social media users through the Suria FM and 988 FM radio channels.

The report from the air involved a representative from SMRG and four police representatives, he said.

The police air unit would take to the sky thrice a week in the morning and evening, and all reports including video and photographs would be shared on Twitter @SuriaFMMalaysia and @988, he said. — Bernama