Controversial ‘spies in the sky’ drones being used by councils to ‘snoop on residents’

More than 60 councils across the UK now have pilots authorised to fly drones, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. Privacy campaigners fear they could be used to monitor citizens

Councils are launching spy-in-the-sky drones to snoop on residents. Local authorities are buying unmanned aerial vehicles and encouraging staff to qualify as pilots, according to a Freedom of Information request.

The Civil Aviation Authority – aka CAA – has released files showing more than 60 city, borough and district councils across the UK now have pilots authorised to fly drones.

But the real figure could be higher as the data is based only on drone-fliers who revealed their training was sponsored by council chiefs. Another a dozen local authorities have contacted the aviation regulator inquiring about laws surrounding drone use.

Privacy campaigners fear councils could use intrusive surveillance tactics to monitor their own citizens.

Jake Hurfurt, of Big Brother Watch, said: “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.”

A recent Hammersmith and Fulham council report revealed drones will be used to bolster the west London borough’s ‘law enforcement team’. The unit of 70 officers issued 2,200 fines last year.

Drones will be used to target ‘anti-social behaviour and fly tipping’. That is despite it being a ‘dangerous zone’ due to air traffic from nearby Heathrow Airport.

The report said police ‘do not have sufficient officer numbers to always provide a visible deterrent or take the desired action’ so drones and CCTV – some of which will use facial recognition technology – can ‘help combat crime and anti-social behaviour’.

In June, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick accused the council of ‘veering into Stasi-like control’ after it fined a man £1,000 for putting his bins out early. The cash penalty was later dropped.

Eight pilots at Sunderland city council operate 13 drones – with more in training. Its website said they are used to ‘detect and prevent crime and disorder, investigate reports of environment crime and carry out enforcement investigations’ as well as to do site surveys and monitor ‘public events’.

Many councils drones to inspect the structure of properties, bridges and roofs and monitor flooding or coastal erosion.

But many also use them to issue penalty charges notices for fly-tipping or keep an eye on bitter planning disputes.

Stockton on Tees borough council has five staff trained as pilots and eight devices which can monitor ‘anti-social behaviour’. Newcastle city council, which has two drones, three qualified pilots and a further five staff undergoing training, uses the devices for surveying but has ‘plans for certain members of staff to use the drones for anti-social behaviour’.

Thurrock council is authorised to use drones to ‘detect and prevent crime’.

Anyone flying a drone heavier than 250g must pass a test and get a flyer ID from the CAA.