UNMANNED aircraft could be patrolling the skies in five years' time under a new scheme which involves the police.

That is the view of Andrew Mellors, head of civil autonomous systems at BAE Systems, who said the planes could be used for patrol work along the south east coast.

A new project, called the South Coast Partnership, has been launched in which BAE Systems has joined with a range of government bodies.

Although some trials of remote-controlled air vehicles have been carried out by police forces in Britain, this will be the first time that autonomous aircraft will be used by civil bodies in the UK.

The year 2012 is the date currently accepted as the earliest achievable date for such craft to operate in controlled airspace.

BAE Systems will be using its expertise in the field of fully autonomous unmanned air systems, to work with its partners, including Kent Police and the Border and Immigration Agency to ensure UAS are introduced as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Speaking at the launch of the South Coast Partnership, at the Police Aviation Conference 2007 in the Hague, Mr Mellors said: "From 2012 fully autonomous unmanned air systems could be routinely used by border agencies, the police and other government bodies.

"These systems will be fully autonomous so that operators task the vehicles and receive the relevant imagery and intelligence direct to the ground control station in real time.

"UAS can undertake a range of tasks that are difficult or expensive for manned aircraft.

"With their long endurance and ability to operate in potentially hazardous environments, UAS offer real potential in the fields of maritime and coastline surveillance as well as showing broader potential for areas such as pipeline, plant and infrastructure surveillance."