Officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Joint Operations Unit used drone technology to conduct a search in Ryde tonight (Friday) following reports of a person on the rooftops.
Police and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were called to George Street in the town sometime before 22:40 after concerns were raised for the welfare of an individual.
The emergency service’s focus was on the disused Royal York Hotel, with flood lights aimed at the Art Deco building.
Using a recently-acquired, state-of-the-art drone, Police carried out an inexpensive and rapid aerial search of the rooftops to identify where the individual may have been.
Following a thorough search, no cause for concern was identified.
Emergency services have since stood down from the incident and George Street has re-opened to all traffic.
UPDATE – A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary has said:
“We received a concern for welfare call for a man on the roof of a building in George Street, Ryde, just before 10pm.
Article continues below this advertisement “Officers arrived to be told by members of the public that the man had already safely come down.
“A search was conducted to locate him. He was later located safe.
“Officers used a drone as part of their search.”
More overdramatized headlines on the Isle of Wight.
Flood lights on the Art Deco building, who are they expecting to be up there, King Kong?
Probably looking for ET so he can phone home..
Expect a few knocked doors in a couple of weeks when the drone ‘data’ has been analysed, and by ‘sheer luck’, the number of lofts, and garages emitting a high concentration of heat in specific areas ‘growing tents’ was discovered.
Yep, very cost effective detection method . All that heat coming out of the roof.
Certainly Castle Street and Union Road are nearby.
We can expect above inflation increases AGAIN on our council tax PLUS and extra £10 for the police after their 13%+ increase last year so they can keep wasting money whilst being highly paid!
I get paid £12000 a year and 20% goes on council tax BUT I do cut down on eating!
Should of been a drone over ryde
What do you expect on the most boring island in the world!!
This is good news, frees up the helicopters for more important stuff. Also quick to deploy.
Let them climb away they’ll come down one way or another..