Local authorities across the UK have substantially escalated their , leading to anxieties that the government is conducting aerial monitoring or surveillance of individuals, reports indicate.
Figures released by the (CAA) reveal that over 60 councils have employed personnel qualified to pilot aerial drones, with at least twelve additional authorities seeking advice on initiating comparable initiatives.
Given that the CAA solely tracks pilots sponsored by their employers, UK experts have cautioned that the true count of publicly financed drone operators might be considerably greater.
The UK civil liberties organization Big Brother Watch has criticized for moving towards “spies in the sky” strategies, which it claims further diminish civil liberties in a country already extensively covered by CCTV surveillance.
Jake Hurfurt, who heads research and investigations, warned that although drones can assist with legitimate duties like flood observation or land assessments, they must not be transformed into instruments for unregulated surveillance.
“While drones could potentially aid councils in monitoring floods or performing land surveys, local authorities should not deploy this technology as ‘spies in the sky’,” he stated.
“Britain already stands as one of the world’s most surveilled nations. With CCTV cameras present on street corners, the addition of flying cameras is unnecessary. Councils are obliged to ensure this technology is not utilized for intrusive oversight of their residents.”
“The mere possibility does not equate to advisability,” he further remarked.
Earlier, Hurfurt had also voiced disapproval of the Metropolitan Police in London employing drones as first responders, cautioning that their deployment lacks clear policies defining when, how, or for what reasons drones should be utilized.
He stated that without proper safeguards, the technology risks evolving into airborne CCTV or, more concerningly, a method for observing legitimate protest actions.
“Without , there is a genuine danger of mission creep, leading to drones functioning as flying CCTV cameras or monitoring individuals engaged in lawful protest,” he commented in an online statement.
“The Metropolitan Police needs to be transparent regarding its criteria for drone deployment and diligently balance the rights of Londoners against the alleged advantages of drone usage,” he concluded.
Notwithstanding these apprehensions, Hammersmith and Fulham Council intends to incorporate drones into its 70-personnel , a unit that issued over 2,200 penalties in the previous year.
claims drones will assist in tackling antisocial behavior, compensating for insufficient police staffing, and operate in conjunction with CCTV systems featuring live facial recognition.
possesses the largest identified council drone fleet, comprising 13 aircraft and numerous trained pilots.
Their drones are employed for crime detection and prevention, enforcement of environmental regulations, and supervision of public assemblies.
Additional councils, such as North West Leicestershire, Stockton-on-Tees, Newcastle, North Norfolk, and Thurrock, are reportedly utilizing drones for diverse purposes, ranging from planning enforcement to overseeing coastal disagreements, as reported by GB News.