"A West London council is preparing to use drones to bolster its enforcement teams as local authorities across the country quietly build aerial surveillance fleets. A report by Hammersmith and Fulham council sets out plans to deploy drones to support its 70-strong law enforcement team, which issued more than 2,200 fines in 2024. The aircraft will be used to target anti-social behaviour and fly tipping."
"There may be a role for drones in helping councils monitor flooding or conduct land surveys, but local authorities must not use the technology as spies in the sky. Britain is already one of the most surveilled countries on earth with CCTV cameras on street corners. We do not need flying cameras, too. Councils must make sure that they do not use this technology for intrusive monitoring of their citizens. Just because it's possible, it does not mean it's something they should do."
Hammersmith and Fulham plans to deploy drones to support its 70-strong law enforcement team, which issued over 2,200 fines in 2024. The drones will target anti-social behaviour and fly tipping despite local airspace hazards from Heathrow traffic and a flight restriction near Wormwood Scrubs Prison. The council says police lack sufficient officers to provide a visible deterrent in all cases and that council drones and CCTV, some with live AI facial recognition, can help combat crime. Local authorities nationwide are amassing UAV fleets and training pilots. A freedom of information request shows more than 60 councils have authorised drone pilots, while the Civil Aviation Authority only records employer-funded training. Privacy groups warn that growing drone use risks expanding intrusive surveillance. Some councils already operate extensive fleets, with examples including Sunderland.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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