Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller has announced the expansion of the Queensland Police Service’s fleet of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs).

Minister Miller said in an Australian-first for a Forensic Services Group, the QPS Photographics Section would now have two operationally deployable RPAs (or drones) to assist at crime scenes across Queensland.

“Our forensic services officers have a vitally important job. They go to great lengths to scour a crime scene for the tiniest bit of evidence that may make all the difference to a case,” Minister Miller said.

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“These new drones will offer investigators the opportunity to record a comprehensive aerial overview of crime scenes – something that they haven’t been able to do before now.

“The images the drones can capture will be invaluable when it comes to presenting evidence in court.

“The drones will also be used in the forensic search for evidence in places that were previously inaccessible – for example, on a roof, down a cliff or over a very large distance.”

Minister Miller said the drones were Vertical Take-off and Landing RPAs and were both constructed of carbon fibre – with one having eight motors and the other four.

“Both drones are fitted with high resolution cameras capable of capturing stills, videos and 3D images,” Minister Miller said.

“They have now been integrated into the Forensic Services Group as business as usual, meaning they are now available to officers to search challenging crime scenes.

“This is a government investment of over $23,000 and is just one way the Palaszczuk Government is equipping the QPS with the technology and resources it needs to keep Queenslanders safe.”

The QPS has been investigating options for the use of RPAs since 2010 and was granted formal approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to operate them in December 2013.

In order to pilot the drones, Sergeant Clint Hanson from the Photographic Section completed CASA training in December 2014.

The drone’s first deployment was to assist officers following the fatal house fire in Beenleigh last month.