Yobs caught on camera by new eye-in-the-sky

Yobs in Dudley are being caught on camera as the council takes a high-tech approach to combating antisocial behaviour.

The Merry Hill Centre in Brierley Hill is a hotspot for ASB and car cruising but offenders are being watched in the latest crackdown involving police and the council’s new drone team.

During an operation dubbed ‘Operation Stinger’ on July 2, drone pilot Andy Stevens from Dudley Council and officers from West Midlands Police took up a position on the roof of the centre to observe any suspicious behaviour using the eye-in-the-sky to direct cops on the ground.

Mr Stevens said: “It has a very, very high definition camera, it can zoom in from up to three kilometres away with complete and utter clarity, it has facial recognition technology and thermal imaging so it doesn’t matter if it is day or night time.

“We have got radio communication so we can relay to our West Midlands Police colleagues on the ground and direct them towards anything we sight.”

On the night, as a result of Operation Stinger, police seized a car which was being driven without insurance and an off-road Surron-type bike after a pursuit. 

The rider was dealt with for alleged traffic offences but under the council’s tough ASB policies that may not be the end of the matter.

The rider will also face action under a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covering Merry Hill and if they live in a council house could also be considered in breach of their tenancy.

Mr Stevens said: “We have had several vehicle PSPOs we have been able to evidence and are progressing at the moment, just this afternoon we visited two properties to serve tenancy notices.

“It was a breach of tenancy where we had the drone in the air on one occasion. We saw the off-road motorbikes going into the back gardens of two separate properties, we then followed that up with action.”

Merry Hill is a hotspot for street racing and Dudley Council recently withdrew from a court injunction banning car cruising and instead introduced a PSPO which allows officers to issue a fixed penalty of up to £100. 

The PSPO prevents activities likely to cause nuisance, annoyance or harassment including revving engines, rapid sudden acceleration, sounding horns or playing music at high volume from cars, using threatening or abusive behaviour, obstructing the highway or parking on footpaths.

After early success the council is looking to buy more drones and train more pilots.

Mr Stevens said: “We cover the entire Dudley borough, there has been a lot of focused work to address ASB issues, this is a new asset, naturally we are using it.”

Dudley Council leader, Cllr Patrick Harley said: “Antisocial behaviour is a scourge on our society, and we have heard from residents who are keen to see us take action against those who flout the rules and disrespect our communities.

“Dudley Council is working with partners and utilising groundbreaking technologies in the fight against ASB.

“As part of antisocial behaviour week, it’s great to see tonight’s activity and I would like to praise all involved.”