Surveillance: Coronavirus
(asked on 28th April 2020) - View Source
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers have been granted to (1) police, and (2) other bodies, for the use of drones and other surveillance technology in order to enforce their responsibilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Answered by
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, introduced on 26 March, gave the police the powers they need to ensure compliance with essential measures on social distancing.
Decisions to use drones and in which circumstances are operational matters for police forces who are subject to the requirements of the Air Navigation Order and Data Protection legislation when operating drones.
The Civil Aviation Authority have granted the Emergency Services, including the police, an exemption from some of the requirements in the Air Navigation Order 2016 to support the enforcement of Government COVID-19 restrictions.