A drone deployed by British Transport Police was sent on a novel mission on Tuesday, 21st July, when it was used to help find a stray dog. The dog, Maddie, was a curious Cairn Terrier that had strayed onto a railway embankment near Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It was quickly located and safely recovered thanks to swift actions by a response team from Network Rail with the help of the drone deployed by British Transport Police. Drones can provide live aerial imagery and data of the railway network, enabling hard-to-reach areas to be monitored and an early response to risks detected. As well as searching for animals such as Maddie, drone technology is used to deter trespassers, detect lineside fires, and monitor flooding.