Talking of festivals, a remote control 'spy helicopter' was reportedly trialed over the V Festival last weekend, helping police there monitor the 90,000-strong event from the skies. Staffordshire police claim the clever device helped them capture various offenders at the festival's Weston Park site, particularly on the car park where it was used to spy on potential car thieves.
On the device Chief Inspector Pete Owen told reporters: "We are delighted to be trialling the drone. It will work in addition to the CCTV that we will monitor on site throughout the festival. Our message to criminals is that we will be watching you and you will be arrested if you are caught on camera.".
No doubt the use of the helicopter will reawaken Orwellian fears of the Big Brother state, but having been a victim of festival crime myself I happen to quite like the idea of criminals being chased by tiny remote control flying machines. Though it does mean that just because you've got your stash past the sniffer dogs on the gates you can't now assume you're safe - who knows what is flying above when you light up?