Human jetsuits ‘could help police fight crime’

A human jet suit system, developed by the company Gravity Industries, was showcased at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) based at Porton Down near Salisbury in front of senior police and government officials on Thursday (12 August).

Test pilot Richard Browning presented the system’s capabilities as part of a demonstration of emerging science and technology that could help fight crime and terrorism. In a fictional scenario, Browning flew rapidly through the air and tracked down a would-be assailant.

While it is not thought there are any immediate plans to buy and use the kit, chairperson of the National Police Chiefs’ Council Martin Hewitt – who was among those in attendance alongside Home Office officials – said the event presented some “important and exciting opportunities” to “identify where that could be used in the policing world”.

Hewitt described the system as “incredibly noisy” and quite “science-fictiony” but said it was fascinating...