The high-tech tools of law enforcement will be on display when the World Cup matches come to Texas in June.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Monday it’s preparing to use both a strategy using drones and a strategy to defeat drones as it draws up security measures to help protect the half a million people expected to attend.
The World Cup, organized by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), holds international association finals competitions every four years at different locations, this year one set of events is planned for Houston.
The competition will begin June 14th in the US, Canada and Mexico and, along with a number of other events across the nation, will wind up on Independence Day with fireworks and celebrations for the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
DHS is planning to spend $115 million on security technology to protect the events, and security expert Dr. Greg Fremin says drone technology is among the best force-multipliers available to law enforcement today.
“Especially with what’s coming up for the World Cup, t’s going to be worth its weight in gold for the technology and the security advantages it gives officers,” he says.
The cost of drones is only a fraction of the money needed to fly a police helicopter or plane, and the small, lightweight drones that fly with built-in cameras can be purchased by the hundreds for the amount of money needed to buy conventional airborne vehicles.
“We’re limited with boots on the ground so this gives us a totally different perspective — and eyes in the sky. It allows us to see things that officers would not regularly be able to see,” the retired Houston Police Department Captain says.
But part of the money to be spent on security goes to fighting drones as well; the Federal Emergency Management Agency has already given $150 million for purchases of anti-drone technology for general protection of the 11 states participating in World Cup matches.
Lack of familiarity might cause some members of the public to fear drones, but the vast majority of them are used by businesses like Amazon to deliver goods, energy companies to survey their properties like power lines, and law enforcement, but people should keep perspective when seeing drones
“I would have concern,” Dr. Fermin says, “because, just as we use drones, the bad guys do too. And there are certain city ordinances that prohibit drone use within the city and for certain areas and specifically during certain events.”
But as most experts will tell you, with their high tech integration and their low prices and maneuverability, drones are here to stay, so the more they’re used for good purposes, the more welcome they’ll become in our everyday lives.