et's not start with the UAV subject again - surely that's for a different thread.
Coconutty have a look at the pdf (at least the 2009/10 dated portions) because as Airpolice says, there has been significant work done by the National Police Air Operations strategists in planning to utilise unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
My understanding is the goals are to both provide a tool with different capabilities to a helicopter and also to make aerial surveillance cheaper, so what better time for the idea to gain (perhaps a little too much) traction than now?
Mickjoebill