Report Summary
This report provides members of the Policing Performance Committee with an overview of Aviation Safety & Security Unit Update.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 11 October 2022
Date : 11 October 2022
Location : online
Background
Police Scotland has a legislative duty to provide a proportionate policing response to incidents which occur within the airspace above its land jurisdiction. Generally, this legal framework provides that police, while not always the lead agency, have a role to play in enforcement, prevention and public safety aspects of airspace management. This includes General Aviation (crewed), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (commonly referred to as UAVs or Drones), air accident investigations, airspace restrictions, event planning and legislation enforcement.
The responsibilities detailed above are managed day to day within the Aviation Safety and Security Unit. This unit is based within the Operational Support Division. The unit is currently supported by one full time Inspector post, although it should be noted a review of this establishment is currently ongoing with a view to increasing full time posts. There are other non-dedicated trained officers based across the Divisions able to respond to incidents.
The use of UAVs both in the private and commercial sectors has risen significantly in the past 3 years. In 2019 there were approximately 10,000 registered users, this figure has now risen to almost a quarter of a million.
Low sophisticated drones can be obtained for as little as £20-£30 from a number of retailers. These require limited or no knowledge to fly and be used ‘off the shelf’ by the vast majority of people. With this comes the risk to public safety from collision and criminality associated with either reckless or deliberate behaviour.
Trends across the UK show an increase in the use of UAVs across a broad range of crime types.
This includes public nuisance, drugs and other contraband being dropped into prisons, illegal betting at sporting events, voyeurism and recognisance for acquisitive crime. While we have seen incidents in Scotland they are currently sporadic isolated incidents.
It remains unlikely that a UAV would be used as a method of physically conducting any type of attack within the UK in the next 3 years. This is due to current capability, cost and available technologies.
This briefing paper will focus primarily on the units increasing demand from the public and commercial use of unmanned aircraft.
