FOI release

Use of drones in search and rescue operations

Case reference FOI2025/01395

Received 11 December 2025

Published 30 April 2026

Request

I am looking to request statistics regarding the use of UAS (Drones) in terms of Missing People Searches / Person in the water Searches. My requested statistics for years 2024 and 2025 are as follows: - How many incidents was your UAS's deployed to for Missing People? - How many flight hours has your UAS been deployed for missing people? - How many of these searches were successful (as a percentage)? - Any specific data (number of incidents / flight hours) regarding searches for Persons believed to have entered the water. This can include body recoveries. - What UAS equipment do you utilise?

Response

Please see PDF file "FOI2025_01395_Response" in the Documents section below.

Documents

• FOI2025_01395_Response.pdf (88.4 KB)

This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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