# Global expansion of municipal and police drone use > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-expansion-of-municipal-and-police-drone-use > Updated: 2026-08-27T13:34:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Municipalities and law enforcement agencies in New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States are expanding the use of drone technology to improve public services, safety, and emergency response. In New Zealand, the Auckland Council has increased its drone operations to include 18 certified pilots across seven business units, focusing on environmental management such as monitoring wildlife and invasive plants. In Cape Town, South Africa, drone feeds are being integrated into a public-safety intelligence network alongside CCTV and body-worn cameras to assist with search and rescue, fire monitoring, and crowd control. In the United States, police departments in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas, are implementing drone programs to enhance situational awareness. Chattanooga has launched a pilot program using unarmed drones as first responders to provide real-time video to intelligence centers, while Houston is expanding its fleet to assist officers during high-risk situations like police pursuits. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-27: US police departments expand drone use for emergency response Police departments in Chattanooga and Houston are deploying drone technology to provide real-time situational awareness during emergency calls and high-risk incidents. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-police-departments-expand-drone-use-for-emergency-response ### 2026-08-25: Municipalities expand use of drone technology for safety and environment Auckland and Cape Town are scaling up drone technology use for environmental monitoring, emergency response, and integrated public safety intelligence networks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/municipalities-expand-use-of-drone-technology-for-safety-and-environment --- Cite as: Global expansion of municipal and police drone use. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-expansion-of-municipal-and-police-drone-use