Police deploy drones, ‘stealth cars’ as 10 drivers arrested for alleged street racing

A total of ten individuals have been apprehended in Hong Kong for participating in unlawful street races on a highway, according to police. The arrest of nine men and one woman, aged between 25 and 51, occurred between August 3 and 10 during a traffic police operation along the Kwun Tong Bypass, a major thoroughfare in East Kowloon.

Senior Inspector Pun Chun-ho disclosed that the suspects were accused of engaging in dangerous driving during the enforcement initiative, code-named "Fastshield". Pun noted that several arrested drivers exhibited reckless behavior, such as driving at high speeds and weaving through traffic.

The force utilized drones and unmarked high-performance vehicles to monitor the suspects' activities and arrest them. Inspector Pun explained that drones offered superior flexibility and extensive coverage, allowing for aerial surveillance and command. In addition, unmarked police vehicles, or "stealth cars", were pre-positioned at strategic locations to intercept the suspects' vehicles, gather evidence, and uphold the law.

He emphasized that the use of drones significantly enhanced the operation's efficiency, conserving personnel resources and aligning with the police department's "smart policing" approach. The footage captured by drones will serve as substantial evidence in the prosecution's case.

Under Hong Kong law, the maximum sentence for dangerous driving is three years' imprisonment and a HK$25,000 fine upon conviction.