Drones: RAF Bases

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Wednesday 27th November 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Naseby (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, the House will hear from the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig.

[Lord Craig of Radley (CB)]

My Lords, does the deployment of Armed Forces personnel indicate that the local police forces do not have the ability to investigate drones, as required by the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021?

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from the noble Lord, Lord Kirkhope.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

As the operator of a registered drone under the CAA, my concerns are that in this country there is a considerable and increasing number of drones being operated by people illegally. They pose a direct threat, not only to military installations and the zones around our airfields, but around civil facilities. Can the Minister comment on how much policing is going on generally, and how many prosecutions of these illegal activities are taking place?