The Government has acted to give police forces across the
country new powers to tackle the misuse of unmanned aircraft,
including drones, as the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned
Aircraft Bill has its second reading in Parliament today
(Monday 27 January).
The legislation will give the police new powers to land,
inspect and seize drones if an offence has been committed and a
warrant is secured.
Drone users could also face an on the spot fine for certain
offences such as failing to provide evidence that they have the
correct permissions and exemptions if found to be flying their
device too high or too close to buildings, or failing to
provide evidence of competency or registration.
The Bill will also grant the Transport Secretary new powers to
ensure that airports modernise their airspace, delivering
quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys. Modernising flight paths
and the infrastructure of the sky will help reduce CO2
emissions from aviation, minimise noise for those near
flight-paths and improve punctuality for passengers.
Transport Minister Baroness Vere said:
“Drones have incredible potential, whether that’s by
transforming how we move goods around or saving lives in
search and rescue missions.
“Most people using drones want to do so responsibly, and we
encourage them to familiarise themselves with the law.
“We are confident these police powers will be used
proportionately to both deter careless drone use and to
tackle serious, malicious criminal activity.”
The Bill will also give the police new stop and search powers
around airports, prisons and other restricted areas. It will
amend the Police Act 1997 to allow the police and senior prison
authorities to authorise the use of counter-drone measures to
combat illegal drone use.
This is just the latest action from government to ensure drones
and other unmanned aircraft are used safely and responsibly. In
October 2019, the Government published its “Counter-Drone”
Strategy and in November 2019 it became mandatory for operators
of small unmanned aircraft to register themselves and take an
online competency test, with 80,000 having registered so far.
Security Minister
said:
“This Bill is a vital part of the
Government’s strategy to tackle the illegitimate use of
drones and protect the UK’s growing drone industry.
“For the UK to establish itself as a global leader in this
exciting technology it is vital that police have the powers
to crack down on those who intend to use drones to cause harm
or disruption.”
The Government is also reviewing the UK’s approach to tackling
the malicious use of drones, including testing and evaluating
counter-drone technology.
