Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to prevent drones being used by members of the public to film footage of crime scenes and investigations.

It is the responsibility of the police to secure a crime scene and ensure any sensitive details are kept out of public view. There is a robust legislative framework that supports them in doing so.

Air Navigation Order 265B(3) makes it an offence to fly close to or inside areas where an emergency response effort is ongoing, unless permission has been granted by the service undertaking the response.

Under the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021, the police have the power to ask drone operators to land their drones. If required, they may authorise the use of counter-drone equipment to force a landing. This legislation also gives the police the ability to seize the drone.

The police also have the power to create an Emergency Restriction of Flying which establishes a temporary airspace restriction. These are well-defined restrictions generally reserved for fatalities, major incidents, and serious crime searches.

The Home Office works closely with the police and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure these restrictions are effective and are well understood by drone operators.