The Government will develop a new mobile counter-drone unit to be deployed to drone-related incidents and major events across the UK.
It comes as part of the government’s Counter-Drone Strategy, launched by security minister Brandon Lewis alongside transport minister Baroness Vere.
Officials said the ‘world-leading strategy’ will ensure that individuals, businesses and emergency services in the UK can continue to harness the economic and social benefits of drones, while cracking down on misuse and disruption.
A new mobile counter-drone unit will be created, containing detection and disruption equipment, which can be deployed by police and other emergency responders to protect major events and rapidly respond to drone incidents.
The strategy also includes plans to drive forward the establishment of international design standards for manufacturers to enable safety features to be designed in from the start. This will involve input from a new industry action group to ‘encourage collaboration with government, drive progress and stay ahead of malicious drone users’.
Baroness Vere said: ‘Unmanned aircraft, including drones, could transform how we move people and goods, boost our economy and even save lives. Unfortunately, they can be, and have been, used recklessly at airports and in our skies.
‘The UK has been at the forefront in tackling the malicious use of unmanned aircraft. This strategy, alongside existing and planned legislation, will let us tap into the benefits of this technology while helping keep people safe both in the air and on the ground.’
The strategy also includes:
- the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill, announced in the Queen’s Speech, which will give police increased powers to tackle illegal drone use
- a new national standard for police recording of illegal drone activity to help build a picture of the drone threat
- national guidance for police to assist them during malicious drone incidents
- the Government’s ongoing work with industry to research and test the latest counter drone equipment so that police across the country are able to respond to threats – building on the work already done across government
- over the next three years, the Government will work with partners to compile a catalogue of approved counter-drone technology to assure police and the owners and operators of critical national infrastructure sites that they are investing in the most effective and appropriate technology
- a government communications campaign to educate the general public and continue to encourage safe drone use
Earlier this year it was announced that from 30 November 2019, every operator of a drone weighing more than 250g will need to register with the Civil Aviation Authority and all remote pilots will have to have passed an online competency test.
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