In the next 18 months, police guarding London’s major airports will switch to drones to help improve surveillance, a move that has caused some criticism.
The drones will be used at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, Luton, London City airport (and at selected other UK airports).
A report in BBC media claimed the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (NCTPH) expects to save GBP1.2 million in three years as a result of using drones.
The decision has been cricised by privacy campaigners, with the civil liberties pressure group Big Brother Watch saying airports already are inundated with surveillance equipment.
Reports of drones flying near airports and causing flight disruptions recently have brought public safety and policing issues to the fore in the UK.
• A drone must never be flown beyond the normal unaided 'line of sight' of the person operating it. Approximately 500 metres horizontally or 400ft vertically;
• A drone must always be flown at least 50 metres distance away from a person, vehicle, building or structure;
• A drone must not be flown within 150 metres of a congested area or large group of people, such as a sporting event or concert.
Earlier this month, Manchester Airport was forced to temporarily suspend flights after a drone was reported in the area, causing disruption for hundreds of travellers because of fears the drone could collide with a passenger jet.
Some departing flights were delayed and some incoming flights were diverted to other airports while a police helicopter searched the area.
In the next 18 months, police guarding London’s major airports will switch to drones to help improve surveillance, a move that has caused some criticism.
The drones will be used at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, Luton, London City airport (and at selected other UK airports).
A report in BBC media claimed the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (NCTPH) expects to save GBP1.2 million in three years as a result of using drones.
The decision has been cricised by privacy campaigners, with the civil liberties pressure group Big Brother Watch saying airports already are inundated with surveillance equipment.
Reports of drones flying near airports and causing flight disruptions recently have brought public safety and policing issues to the fore in the UK.
• A drone must never be flown beyond the normal unaided 'line of sight' of the person operating it. Approximately 500 metres horizontally or 400ft vertically;
• A drone must always be flown at least 50 metres distance away from a person, vehicle, building or structure;
• A drone must not be flown within 150 metres of a congested area or large group of people, such as a sporting event or concert.
Earlier this month, Manchester Airport was forced to temporarily suspend flights after a drone was reported in the area, causing disruption for hundreds of travellers because of fears the drone could collide with a passenger jet.
Some departing flights were delayed and some incoming flights were diverted to other airports while a police helicopter searched the area.
