Nova Scotia RCMPs new drones a 'game changer'

The RCMP in Nova Scotia have new crimefighting weapons unmanned aerial vehicles commonly known as drones.

Five drones will be deployed to RCMP detachments across the province.

Each machine costs around$30,000.

The lightweight machines can deploy in under five minutes, a game changer saidConst. Mark Skinner.

The drones will help police with collision reconstruction, search and rescue, major crimes and officer safety.

If we have a scenario where theres an active shooter or we have an urgent lifethreatening situation we can deploy it. we can be able to know where the suspect is to tell our officers on the ground whats going on, he said.

Skinner has already put a drone to work getting aerial photos of car accidents. He says the shots will help investigators reconstruct accidents.

When you have a major collision happen on the highway often theres multiple cars involved, multiple ways the cars are going in forces. So its really great where we can deploy it up in the air, we can get a good aerial shot. Very easy for the collision analyst then to articulate in court or in his report exactly what he believes happened, said Skinner.

RCMP in Saskatchewan credit their drone with saving a mans life last year after he walked away from car crash and could not be found.Officers were able to track the disoriented man down using the drones infrared camera.

In Canada, drones are under tight restrictions from Transport Canada.

Its not used for surveillance in any way shape or form, Skinner stressed.

The drones work best in light winds and can stay in the air for 20 minutes.