First images captured by police drones introduced to Aston Villa and Wolves stadiums to improve fan safety

The new technology is being introduced at Villa Park and Molineux Stadium. The project is a partnership between the Premier League, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).

Under the scheme, live footage of crowds arriving at and leaving matches will be streamed directly into club control rooms using satellite internet. Police say this will help them monitor large gatherings more effectively and respond quickly if problems arise.

The project began in January with a successful test during Aston Villa’s match against Nottingham Forest and Wolves’ game against West Ham. Officers flew existing drones fitted with new satellite equipment to check the system worked as planned.

Sye Roberts, Aston Villa’s VP of Security and Matchday Safety said: “We welcome the installation of police drones at Villa Park, which have already proven to be a valuable addition to our operation.

"They allow us to monitor the wider area around the stadium more effectively, and we’ve already seen positive results, including the detection and prevention of unauthorised drone flights.

"We look forward to further deployments and are already exploring how this technology could be expanded to support other major events, such as concerts, to help keep fans and local communities safe.”

Steve Sutton, Wolves’ facilities, safety and security director, said: “We’re proud to be a part of this pioneering partnership that puts supporter safety at the forefront.

"The introduction of West Midlands Police operated drones at Molineux will give us a clearer, real time picture of crowd movement and the surrounding area, helping us and the police to make more informed decisions on matchdays.

"This technology strengthens our existing safety operations and supports our joint commitment to ensuring that fans, staff, and our local community remain safe."

In the next phase, permanent, weather-proof drone hubs will be installed at both stadiums. These hubs will store drones that can be flown remotely by trained police pilots working from control rooms located miles away.

Police say the drones will not only support match-day operations but can also be deployed rapidly to other emergencies. This could include searching for missing people or giving officers a live view of a serious road collision before they arrive at the scene.

ACC Matt Welsted, leading the project for West Midlands Police, said: "This is a truly groundbreaking use of technology which will have a real impact on fan safety at football matches, and wider public safety in the West Midlands.

"It’ll mean the police officers and club officials who share the job of ensuring crowds get to and from grounds safely will have access to live video, so any issues with congestion can be dealt with swiftly and safely.

"And it’s not just football fans who will benefit. We’ll be using the drones as first responders, so that they can take off even when teams aren’t playing, and get to the scene of serious collisions, or help with searches for wanted or missing people quickly and safely.

"We’re incredibly excited about the use of technology, and how we’re working with partners to innovate and make the region safer for everyone.”

The project also includes new investment to improve the force’s ability to detect and safely deal with any drones being flown illegally around Premier League grounds.

Chief Constable, Mark Roberts QPM, the National Police Chief Council (NPCC) lead for football policing, said: "It’s great to see this partnership between Policing and the Premier League coming to fruition.

"As well as helping keep supporters safe at Villa and Wolves, there will be wider benefits for public safety and lessons we can learn for policing in general. It speaks to the positive relationship between the UKFPU, Police Forces, the Premier League, and clubs that we can get such a positive initiative implemented so quickly."