Question
Untitled item
S5W-20593 · Written Question · lodged by Finnie, John
Lodged on
13 Dec 2018Heard / answered on
20 Dec 2018To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20420 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018, whether surveillance aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones were deployed to the incident in the Firth of Lorn on 18-19 November 2018.
The answer
Neither surveillance aircraft nor unmanned aerial vehicles ("drones") were deployed to this incident. Use of such assets requires careful planning and preparation to ensure their most effective use.
If resources are available they can be re-tasked to gather evidence. Whether or not immediate action is possible all reports and intelligence received is fed into Marine Scotland Compliance intelligence database. All of this information is graded and assessed at a regular risk assessment and tasking session where priorities and tasks for coastal officers, shipos and aircraft are decided. Local officers also follow up intelligence reports from their area at a local level so even if no other action is possible some form of action is undertaken.
As I have said before in correspondence to the Member darkness curtails our use of these assets.
If resources are available they can be re-tasked to gather evidence. Whether or not immediate action is possible all reports and intelligence received is fed into Marine Scotland Compliance intelligence database. All of this information is graded and assessed at a regular risk assessment and tasking session where priorities and tasks for coastal officers, shipos and aircraft are decided. Local officers also follow up intelligence reports from their area at a local level so even if no other action is possible some form of action is undertaken.
As I have said before in correspondence to the Member darkness curtails our use of these assets.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 Dec 2018.