THIS is the new secret weapon to help our police fight a Paris-style terror attack or deal with another siege like the Lindt Cafe.

And they can also be used to hunt for gunmen, search for drugs and even find missing children.

A fleet of drones, ­officially designated as ­Remotely Piloted Aircraft by NSW Police, have been ­unveiled after a successful 18-month trial and training program.

media_camera NSW Police Inspector Stephen Kent flies a police drone. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn said the drones would become part of “business as usual” for major police operations, including a terror attack.

“If an active armed ­offender event was to occur, we would be able to put up the aircraft and get low down and get good imagery of what’s happening from above,” she said.

“In (the trial) scenario, we were able to see that it was clearly an active scene and were able to see the offenders and their movements, which helps our tactical operation decision-making.

“If it was an uncontained and live situation, and we didn’t know where people were, that would be something we would definitely use it for.”

media_camera The drones are fitted with cameras.

Deputy Commissioner Burn said the machines would also be used to search for people missing in dense bushland, discover hidden drug crops and to survey crime scenes before forensic officers were able to enter.

“We’ve been able to get some fantastic footage which helps in our analysis of the crime scene and we have also trialled it with serious motor vehicle accidents where people have died and been able to take measurements and imagery from above,” she said.

“We have also used it to search for missing people in bushland. The beauty of these aircraft is they can fly lower on the terrain and can go into places the helicopter can’t.

“It might also be able to assist with maritime operations. Our Marine Area Command does search and rescue operations, we see that as something else we can use it for.

“If we had intelligence there was a cannabis crop, we would be able to put this up and search an area for it.”

media_camera A police drone captures images from above of a car accident.

The drones used by NSW police are controlled by a tablet and require the user to have an official Civil Aviation and Safety Authority licence following months of training.

Existing officers have taken on the new roles as specialist pilots for the aircraft.

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The aircraft are commonly used by law enforcement agencies overseas, including the USA where the FBI and Homeland Security has been known to use them for surveillance purposes.

However, Deputy Commissioner Burn said NSW Police would not use its fleet for spying.

“It won’t be used for surveillance under any circumstances,” she said.

“We’ll keep expanding as much as the technology keeps expanding. We can think big with this. I think it’s an exciting world.”

media_camera A police drone used during a search and rescue operation.

Australian Privacy Foundation Vice Chairman David Vaile said while drones offered a “wide array” of beneficial uses for law enforcement agencies, it did raise privacy concerns.

“They are a pretty powerful and potentially dangerous and potentially oppressive tool,” Mr Vaile said.

He said NSW Police should conduct a public privacy impact and risk assessment of the use of the machines before rolling them out as part of normal operations.