How police are using drones to quell Premier League fan disorder after £2m commitment

Police are using drones to monitor crowds and help prevent disorder at Premier League football matches as part of a £2m pilot scheme in the West Midlands.

The project, being delivered in partnership by the Premier League and West Midlands Police, gives officers an aerial view of activity around stadiums and is designed to help them respond to potential safety and crime issues more quickly.

£2m pilot scheme underway

The drone operation began towards the end of last season and is continuing throughout the current Premier League campaign, with live footage being transmitted to police control rooms.

For match commanders, the technology provides an additional perspective that can be difficult to obtain from officers operating at ground level.

Inspector Tom Hanna, who was responsible for policing a recent fixture between Coventry and Brighton at the CBS Arena, said the drones provide a greater level of detail about how crowds and traffic are moving around the stadium.

“Without the drones, I wouldn't get the same level of detail, so it gives me an idea how everything's flowing,” he said. “It's about getting ahead of any potential safety and crime issues.”

Police say the drones can help them identify developing situations before they escalate, allowing officers to be deployed to areas where they are most needed.

The technology is being used to monitor areas outside the stadium as well as activity involving supporters and vehicles, including away fan coaches.

The Premier League has described the pilot as a positive step in tackling potential incidents as they happen, while also highlighting the potential for a less visible policing presence around football grounds.

Clare Sumner, the Premier League's chief policy and social impact officer, said: “This pilot will help us learn things together and strengthen that partnership between policing, our clubs and our stewards because those are the magic ingredients.

“The less visible policing presence, which drones help with, is a really good thing.”

The drone scheme forms part of a wider partnership between the Premier League and the National Police Chiefs' Council, announced in December 2025.

FGG Says: An interesting move

The use of drones is a significant change to the modern matchday experience and this pilot scheme is an important test of how technology can be used alongside traditional policing, clubs and stewards to improve safety at Premier League stadiums.