Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by hostile unmanned aerial systems to UK critical national infrastructure; which public authorities or infrastructure operators have the legal powers and operational capabilities to detect, disrupt, or disable such systems; and whether they plan to extend counter-drone capabilities to those responsible for protecting critical transport, energy and communications infrastructure.

The Home Office coordinates the government’s domestic counter-drone policy. We lead work to understand potential risks posed by the misuse of drones to ensure we have the right capabilities, personnel, training and powers to counter the threat.

We recognise that drones can be used for a range of hostile activities, including disruptions to critical national infrastructure but also surveillance, data gathering, using drones as weapons, or to support organised crime and terrorism. It is therefore essential to take a strategic cross-government approach to this challenge. In 2019 the Home Office published the UK’s first Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy, which outlines the government’s efforts to reduce the risks posed by the malicious and negligent use of drones.

In 2021, the government introduced the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act (ATMUA). This created a suite of counter-drone powers to ensure that the police have the right powers in place to tackle hostile use of drones. ATMUA provides police, including Civil Nuclear Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police, with stop and search, seizure powers, the ability to issue fixed penalty notices (similar to traffic fines for drone users), and legal authorisations for the use of counter-drone equipment to detect and mitigate against drone use.

In 2019, the Home Office supported the creation of the National Police Chiefs' Council Counter-Drones Unit to provide strategic leadership to policing on counter-drones capabilities. This unit provides support to local forces to ensure they have the appropriate training and equipment to tackle the misuse of drones and we continue to work closely with this team.

How and when the police use their powers and capabilities is an operational matter. Civilian operators at critical national infrastructure sites can already operate certain drone detection systems but are not legally permitted to use counter-drone equipment that would disrupt a drone (effectors). Guidance from the National Protective Security Agency (NPSA) is available to site operators to aid with response plans and protective security measures to mitigate the likelihood of an incursion at their site. In some cases, Government departments have also issued sector-specific guidance.

The Armed Forces Bill plans to strengthen the MoD’s ability to respond to drone misuse by providing new powers, including for staff at military bases.

The Home Office keeps under review options to expand the capabilities available to private businesses and infrastructure operators to protect themselves against drone threats.