Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 14 May (HL3508), what are the specific exemptions the Civil Aviation Authority have granted to the Emergency Services, including the police; and from which particular requirements in the Air Navigation Order 2016 those agencies are so exempted.

The use of drones is regulated by the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016.

In July 2017 the CAA issued an exemption to the emergency services to allow for greater flexibility in the operation of drones in the event of an immediate risk to life or a critical incident; subject to certain safeguards.

• The exemption relates to Article 94(3) – operation of a drone within visual line of sight.

• Article 95 - operation within minimum distances from congested areas, people, vessels, vehicles and structures.

These exemptions are subject to additional safeguards set out by the CAA and remain valid.

On the 27th of March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the CAA issued an exemption to the ANO allowing emergency services to operate drones more flexibly to enforce lockdown requirements. These exemptions related to:

• Article 94(3) – requires that the operation of a drone is done within visual line of sight;

• Article 95 - operation within minimum distances from congested areas, people, vessels, vehicles and structures; the exemption reduces the distance from 50m to 10 or 20 dependent on the weight of the drone.

• Article 94A(2)- relating to the maximum height at which drones are allowed to operate, the exemption increased the distance from 400ft to 600ft. On the 8th of April this height was reduced from 600ft to 500ft due to an increase in general helicopter activity.

These exemptions were subject to additional safeguards such as the need for an operational observer and to maintain the UA in visual line of sight at all times.

The Covid-19 exemptions have now been revoked due to the return of regular aviation activity.

Subject to meeting the requirements within the ANO and any applicable exemptions issued by the CAA, it is an operational matter for police forces to decide how to deploy drones.