01/04/2026
Could you just imagine this! 🤣🤣🤣
Victoria Police is today announcing its newest aerial capability - the Hot Air Balloon Unit (HABU).
The trial follows ongoing community interest in aerial police activity, particularly the long-standing question: “why is the chopper above my house?”
HABU offers a quieter alternative... although we expect it will attract a similar level of attention.
The trial will see officers deployed in hot air balloons across key traffic corridors, providing an elevated perspective of day-to-day activity across the city.
Operating during early mornings and major travel periods - when drivers are most likely to test their luck - members will be positioned above key locations including the C*D, parklands and along the Yarra, delivering what can only be described as 'views for days'.
Each balloon will be equipped with:
➡️ extended hover capability over confusing intersections
➡️ panoramic visibility of entire traffic queues (and a clear line of sight for spotting phone use)
➡️ a burner system that definitely won’t startle anyone at the lights, in most cases.
Specialised training includes:
➡️ extended periods of silent observation
➡️ coordinated slow drifting over high-risk areas
➡️ maintaining eye contact with drivers for an uncomfortably long time.
The trial will run over the coming weeks, weather permitting - and in Melbourne, that's a big "if".
Quotes attributable to Acting Superintendent Chris Wetherby:
“From a few hundred metres up, you get a clear view of everything - phone use, tailgating, late merging… it’s all there. There’s nowhere to hide when we’re slowly drifting above you.”
“It’s hard to ignore a police officer silently floating above you. We’ve found drivers tend to immediately reconsider their decisions.”
“We did have one briefly hover over a drive-thru. That's been addressed internally."