In April 2015 the Photographic Section became the first forensic police facility in Australia to utilise a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to capture aerial photographs and videos at major crime scenes.
Since then, the demand for RPA usage has grown substantially from 29 forensic jobs completed in 2015 to 54 in 2017.
Operations began with one pilot and currently a total of six have been trained.
Pilots must obtain a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) which is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
RePL flying courses can be quite in depth, with a number of theory exams covering topics such as basic aeronautical knowledge, navigation and meteorology, air legislation and human factors.
Pilots must also gain aviation radio qualifications in order to make the correct radio transmissions to other aircraft’s operating in the area. Transmissions must be accurate, precise and short.
The Photographic Section operates four multirotor RPAs, chosen specifically for their vertical takeoff and landing
Author: Admin
Robbery with violence charges, Labrador
Four boys have been charged after a man was allegedly robbed in Labrador overnight.
A man was driving his car on Jacob Drive near Dodgers Park at 11 last night when he was flagged down by a boy requesting assistance.
It will be alleged that then a group of boys assaulted the man when he left his car and stole his shoes, a jumper, a cap and mobile phone before fleeing the scene on foot.
Police were called and located four boys nearby who were arrested and taken into custody.
The man was treated for minor facial injuries and was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
A 17-year-old Labrador boy has been charged with one count each of robbery and obstruct police.
A 16-year-old Biggera Waters boy has been charged with two counts of obstruct police and one count each of robbery and possession of utensils.
A 16-year-old Biggera Waters boy has been charged with one
Break and enter and indecent act charges, Southport
Police have charged a man following an alleged break and enter at a home in Southport on Friday afternoon.
Officers were called to an address on Scarborough Street at 3pm on May 25 after a man allegedly entered a unit.
It will be further alleged that the man removed his clothes and started performing an indecent act before fleeing the scene on foot.
The Dog Squad tracked the man to Little Norman Street where he was taken into custody.
Police will allege that the man failed to comply with directions given by officers and, as a result, sustained a bite from the police dog during the arrest.
The man was taken to hospital for treatment of a dog bite injury to his arm.
No one in the unit sustained any physical injuries during the incident.
A 27-year-old man has been charged with one count each of enter dwelling with intent, possession of dangerous drugs, obstruct police, failure
Armed robbery, Spring Hill
Detectives are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a Spring Hill service station overnight.
Around 1.30am a man has entered the Barry Parade business and threatened the male staff member with a knife.
The man fled the store with a sum of cash and cigarettes.
The man is described as 175cm tall, brown skin and was last seen walking east on School Street.
The staff member was not physically injured during the incident.
Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam vision or further information to contact police.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Robbery with violence charges, Brisbane City
Police have charged three teenagers after they allegedly hit a shop assistant in the head with a spanner and stole two bottles of coke in Brisbane City overnight.
It will be alleged around 8pm three teenagers entered a store on Ann Street and removed two bottles of 1.25l coke from the fridge and attempted to leave the store. A staff member confronted them and grabbed the bottles. The teenagers then punched and kicked the staff member before hitting him in the head with a spanner and leaving the store with the two bottles.
Police located the teenagers a short time later in King Edward Park.
A 15-year-old Inala boy, a 15-year-old Inala girl and a 16-year-old Petrie boy have all been charged with one count of robbery with violence and will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justices Act.
The male staff member received a laceration to his head however he
Dangerous driving charges, Cairns
Police have charged three people after an alleged stolen vehicle forced two vehicles off the road in Westcourt last night.
It will be alleged at 7.30pm a police vehicle and another car where headed east on Brinsmead Road when a Nissan Xtrail, travelling in the opposite direction overtook two other cars, forcing the police vehicle and other vehicle to take evasive action onto the grass verge to avoid a collision.
Police observed the vehicle parked in Saint George Close a short time later and arrested the female driver and two passengers of the vehicle.
It will be further alleged the vehicle had been stolen from Townsville on May 25 and involved in two petrol drive offs in Garbutt and Ingham.
A 17-year-old Vincent girl has been charged with two counts each of dangerous driving of a motor vehicle, unlicensed driving and stealing and one count each of fail to provide specimen of breath for
Fatal traffic crash, Glen Aplin
Police are investigating a fatal single vehicle traffic crash that occurred near Glen Aplin yesterday afternoon.
At about 2.30pm, a vehicle travelling north bound on the New England Highway has crossed into the south bound lane before leaving the roadway and impacting with a tree.
The female driver in her forties was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two female passengers were transported to the Stanthorpe Hospital in a serious condition.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.
Armed robbery, Runcorn
Detectives are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a Runcorn convenience store tonight.
Around 7.45pm a man has entered the Condamine Street store and threatened the male staff member with a knife.
The man fled the store with a sum of cash and cigarettes.
The man is described as 183cm tall, Caucasian in appearance and was last seen running west on Crompton Road.
The staff member was not physically injured during the incident.
Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam vision or further information to contact police.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Police use new anti-gang laws for first time to shut down Rebels OMCG club house
First use of new anti-gang powers
For the first time, police have used tough new anti-gang powers to take action against the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) in Brisbane.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said it was the first time police had invoked new powers under laws passed by the Palaszczuk Government last year to target organised crime gangs operating in Queensland.
“Officers from Taskforce Maxima established Operation Quebec Nebulous to investigate intelligence that the Brisbane Rebels OMCG chapter was operating a club house in a shed at a location that was supposed to have been an industrial premises used for car repairs,” Minister Ryan said.
“Last night they were able to establish that the premises was indeed operating as a club house thanks to new search powers granted to police by the Palaszczuk Government.
“New powers to issue public safety orders were also used by officers for the first time. Each of the nine patched
Unlawful woundings, Cairns
Detectives are investigating two attempted robberies in Cairns where teenagers were stabbed in the early hours of this morning.
In the first incident at around 12.30am an 18-year-old man was approached by four men on the Cairns Esplanade near Minnie Street who made demands for items from him.
One of the men produced a knife and stabbed the 18-year-old in the hand before all four men fled the scene. Nothing was stolen and the 18-year-old returned to his place of accommodation and notified police.
The teenager was transported to Cairns Base Hospital for treatment of his injury.
In the second incident at around 1am a 17-year-old boy in the company of another male was approached by a man armed with a knife on Cairns Street near Thomas Street who demanded money from them.
The 17-year-old refused and an altercation ensued during which the 17-year-old received a cut to his arm and a stab wound to