As drone use become more prevalent, governments are being forced to rush through new legislation in order to combat threats and disruption caused by UAV activity. Following the grounding of hundreds of flights at London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports in 2018 and 2019, the British government is working on a new Drones Bill that aims to further restrict the use of both commercial and personal drones.

In March this year, the airport drone exclusion zone was increased from one to five kilometers with additional restrictions at the end of runways to protect incoming and outgoing flights. From 30 November, all drones must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority and owners must take an online safety test. While there is already a fine and potential prison sentence for users flying drones above 400 feet, the new legislation will also penalize those who fail to register their aircraft or take (and pass) the requisite exam.

As of November, police will be given the power to enter and search properties when they have good reason to suspect illicit drone activity. They will also be able to hand out fixed penalty notices for minor offences, such as failure to comply with an officer’s request to land a drone. The British government is continuing to invest in counter-drone technology e.g. geofencing and has plans to introduce new monitoring and tracking systems in the next few years.

At BSWi, we have created an advance anti-drone system in response to the security threats posed by drones and other UAVs. Our proprietary technology incorporates sensors that rapidly scan the environment to detect, classify, and neutralize threats before they can cause disruption and/or damage. Read more about our anti-drone projects here (link to project?).Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/uk-drone-laws-2019-3146402