Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Euro 2016: French Police considering using surveillance drones during this summer's tournament

The drones will be required to read a licence plate from 50 metres away while 30 metres up in the air 

Matt Payton
Thursday 31 March 2016 18:30 EDT
Comments
French Police standing guard outside the Stalingrad Paris Metro station
French Police standing guard outside the Stalingrad Paris Metro station (EPA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

French Police in Paris have launched a bidding process for surveillance drones ahead of this summer's European Championships.

Unlike the bomb-carrying drones used by US and British military in the Middle East, these drones will be small machines of a maximum weight of 10kg which will use six propellers to stay aloft.

According to the Prefecture's contract outline, the drone will be able to stay up in the air for at least 30 minutes.

These drones will be required to be near silent and "difficult to detect by means of thermal and electromagnetic sensing when operating at 100m in height".

The design brief includes a 750 pixel video camera with a 10x zoom which would "allow good vision at night".

Such a video camera would be required to read a licence plate at a distance of 50 metres while 30 metres up in the air, Le Monde reports.

All companies interested in the contract have until 10 May to submit a bid before the month-long competition starts on 10 July.

The Independent has contacted the Paris Police Prefecture for comment.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in