The UK is considering the use of unmanned military-style drones to aid in defeating illegal immigration and drugs on the nation’s coastlines.

BAE Systems and the Kent and Essex police forces are working together to bring out UAVs that will be used for the patrolling, according to BBC News.

BAE is looking to adapt the HERTI UAV for border and coastal patrol and the GA22 for hovering above large events such as music festivals.

BAE civil autonomous systems head Andrew Mellors said that the UAS can be instructed to search for and detect certain suspicious behaviours and alert the maritime authorities immediately.

The systems would initially identify and monitor shipping in the English Channel, and police illegal entry to and from the UK.

The forces expect a version of the UAV to be operational by 2012.