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Powers to tackle illegal use of drones revealed

The Department for Transport has released new legislation that will give police officers the power to land drones, search premises and seize drones.

Looking to tackle drones misuse and abuse, a consultation, that received over 5,000 responses, has led to new legislation that will give police officers the additional power to land drones and require users to produce the proper documentation. Moreover, the police will have the power to search premises and seize drones, including electronic data stored within the device, where a serious offence has been committed and a warrant is secured.

The government has also said that the Home Office will also begin to test and evaluate the safe use of a range of counter-drone technology in the UK, increasing the security service’s ability to detect drones from flying around sensitive sites, including airports and prisons, and develop a range of options to respond to drones.

Aviation Minister Liz Sugg said: “Drones have the potential to bring significant benefits and opportunities, but with the speed of technological advancement comes risk, and safety and security must be our top priorities. That’s why we are giving the police powers to deal with those using drones irresponsibly. Along with additional safety measures these will help ensure the potential of this technology is harnessed in a responsible and safe way.”

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