Drone joins Dudley's fight against anti‑social behaviour

Dudley Council is escalating its anti-social behaviour (ASB) campaign during National Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week by deploying a council-operated drone alongside other enforcement measures. The week runs until July 5, with activities aimed at raising awareness, engaging communities and taking direct action across the borough. The thermal-imaging drone is being used to monitor illegal off-road bikes and quad bikes in public green spaces, support investigations into fly-tipping and identify potholes. It can also help flag properties potentially linked to illegal drug cultivation by providing officers with a clearer view beyond what is out of sight. The council is also working under new Public Space Protection Orders to tackle issues such as street racing. Calls to its dedicated out-of-hours ASB team averaged 124 per month between April and September 2025 versus 79 per month from October 2025 to March 2026, with more than 1,300 calls and over 1,700 home visits last year.