Cutting-edge plans to use drones as first responders to police emergencies have been showcased in a demonstration in Norwich.

A drone, housed in a box on a nearby rooftop, was deployed to search for a man playing the role of a missing person at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

The demonstration comes as part of a national trial to establish if and how the technology could be used.

The demonstration comes as part of a national trial to establish if and how the technology could be usedThe demonstration comes as part of a national trial to establish if and how the technology could be used (Image: NPCC/PA Wire)

Initial trials are taking place in Norfolk which currently has limited access to the helicopters flown by the National Police Air Service due to proximity.

During the demonstration, the drone was housed in a box on top of a building, charged and ready to go.

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Flying over the scene, it was then able to beam back real-time imagery to an officer, who sat at a set of screens in the back of a police van parked nearby.

Superintendent Taryn Evans, who heads the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s drones programme, said the trial will run in phases until 2026.

If testing is successful, the devices would be stationed on buildings and operated remotely as first respondersIf testing is successful, the devices would be stationed on buildings and operated remotely as first responders (Image: NPCC/PA Wire)

Potential benefits include the ability to deploy the drone at a "moment’s notice" to provide live images while police make their way to the scene.

The drones are expected to assist with area searches, road incidents, issues in town centres, public order incidents and the night-time economy.

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The trial will take a “phased approach” to ensure the technology does not interfere with other airway regulators and is integrated safely.

Police data will be assessed over the next year and a half to see how the technology relates to policing activity.

Potential benefits include the ability to provide live images of incidents while police make their way to the scenePotential benefits include the ability to provide live images of incidents while police make their way to the scene (Image: NPCC/PA Wire)

Police forces in England and Wales currently use around 400 drones to assist with operations, but these must be flown within the operator’s line of sight.

Plans are in place to amend these rules, with initial trials taking place in four test sites across the UK with closed-off airspace.