Moree crime rates falling but residents say drone use overreach

In the NSW town of Moree, Indigenous residents are expressing concerns about the extended two-year trial of police drones, stating they do not want to be a test case for this technology. The drones, introduced nine months ago, hover over the town, which has had a reputation for youth crime. While police claim the drones are for responding to crimes, residents feel surveilled and fear not being able to freely move around their neighborhoods.

A community survey found residents generally positive about the drones, but critics argue that other factors, such as declining crime rates, have contributed to the reduction in crime. The NSW government extended the drone trial, but a community survey and BOCSAR statistics show crime rates have already been falling in Moree before the drones were introduced.

BOCSAR's executive director, Jackie Fitzgerald, states that it's premature to attribute the crime declines to the drones. Principal solicitor Jonathan Hall Spence notes that the footage from the drones could be used as evidence in court, but there is limited opportunity for scrutiny. Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay questions the existing laws and safeguards for this new technology, emphasizing the need for clear legislation and oversight before extending the trial.