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Drone Complaints Soar in the UK (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the get-that-thing-off-my-face dept.

Drones are stirring up public annoyance in the U.K. as the number of complaints to police are said to have soared twelvefold over the past two years -- including allegations of snooping neighbors, burglary "scoping" exercises, prison smuggling and near-misses with aircraft. From a report: Last year incidents rose to 3,456 (about 10 a day), almost tripling the 2015 figure of 1,237. In 2014, the number of incidents was only 283, indicating that the commercial success of the devices has brought with it a growing public nuisance. The findings were a result of a freedom of information request submitted by the Press Association to show the number of incidents logged by police around the country between 2014 and 2016. Their timely release follows several reports of near-misses with passenger planes and drones, and the arrest of Daniel Kelly, 27, last year, who became the first person in the U.K. to be jailed for smuggling items into prisons. But the actual total of cases is thought to be much higher, as not all police forces were able to submit data on the drone cases.

31 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. First Arrest by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 3, Insightful

    the arrest of Daniel Kelly, 27, last year, who became the first person in the U.K. to be jailed for smuggling items into prisons

    I find that unlikely. Probably the first person to be jailed smuggling items into prisons using a drone, but I find it unlikely in Britain's long history there has never been anyone jailed for smuggling items into prisons before.

    --
    "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    1. Re:First Arrest by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      I've been to prison in the USA so I can only tell from experience there. But 99% of the time guards are paid to look the other way or just paid to smuggle. Also the staff that isn't guards. Here in Nevada we had the leader of the music department at one of the prisons caught smuggling drugs in through the insides of electric keyboards and other instruments.

    2. Re:First Arrest by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 2

      So, the reason the drone guy was charged is because he was cutting out the middle man and not letting the guards have their cut of the profit?

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    3. Re:First Arrest by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      but I find it unlikely in Britain's long history there has never been anyone jailed for smuggling items into prisons before.

      There's a TV show all about it. It's called Border Security Australia.

    4. Re:First Arrest by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Pretty much what I gather from it..

  2. So drone complaints are up by OzPeter · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How does the increase in drone complaints compare with the increase in drone ownership over the same time? Neither TFS or TFA mention this stat.

    --
    I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    1. Re:So drone complaints are up by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 2

      How does the increase in drone complaints compare with the increase in drone ownership over the same time?

      That is an intelligent question that, if answered, would pick away at the underpinnings of the "drones are bad" narrative.

      Get in the penalty box right now, and don't come out until you've learned your lesson.

    2. Re:So drone complaints are up by The+Real+Dr+John · · Score: 1

      You don't think that when everyone is flying drones around the neighbor's house and Amazon et al. are delivering by drone that it isn't going to be really obnoxious? I realize that when there are only a few here and there it is OK, but what about when there are tens of millions, or hundreds of millions? Your obnoxious neighbor is going to have lots of fun spying on you.

      You don't think there is any reason why some people might start to think of them as a nuisance? I see a large potential for lawsuits, mass irritation and then the new laws will come. It seems inevitable as the price comes down on drones and more people buy them. Not everyone has the self control to use them judiciously.

      --
      A brain is a terrible thing to waste... Mind? That's debatable.
    3. Re:So drone complaints are up by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      I agree wholeheartedly that laws will come, but I refuse to buy the chicken little drone narrative. 400 meters from where I sit a continuous stream of machines weighing from 500-40,000 kilos roll by at speeds of over 100km/h. They belch smoke and all manner of obnoxious noises. We made laws about how they could be operated and ceded our roads to their use. (Remember when roads were for feet and hooves? No? Neither do I.) Now people look at cars and trucks with little concern. My prediction is that UAV systems will be the same way.

    4. Re:So drone complaints are up by LeftCoastThinker · · Score: 1

      Except that motor vehicles fill an essential need in modern civilization. Drones are at best a tool for a few, at worst a toy to spy or peep on your fellow citizens. If drones start filling an essential need, there will be wider acceptance of the nuisance that drones pose.

      --
      If you disagree, please post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like
    5. Re:So drone complaints are up by Zemran · · Score: 1

      That is the sort of thing that people said about cars 100 years ago. Drones are already filling several needs. They are being used for deliveries and police work. It is the nature of such things that in the near future hundreds of new uses will be found and that essential need will creep in. In our lifetimes they will be zipping around all over the place. S'pore is already considering them as taxis.

      --
      I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
    6. Re:So drone complaints are up by Xest · · Score: 1

      The BBC article on this stated the rise in complaints was indeed due to the rise in drone ownership.

      Personally I don't have a problem with drones, just as I don't have a problem with things like quad bikes and dirt bikes, and other such things. I do have a problem when they're used illegally though - i.e. when a quad biker nearly runs be down because he's belting illegally down a country path. Similarly I have a problem with drones being used by criminals to scout houses out for robbery. UK law says you're not allowed to fly a drone within 50 metres of a house.

      As is always the case in our country, it's also illegal to employ countermeasures for these types of things, so for example, if someone illegally flies a drone through my window and into my house, I'm not legally allowed to hack it, or destroy it. So for law abiding citizens it's not an equal playing field. If it weren't for stupidity like that then people would probably have less of an issue as they could just tackle nuisance drones themselves, but if they try it'll then be them in trouble with the law. This is kind of the same in the US I guess with the guy who shot one down because it was perving on his family but who then got prosecuted for doing so.

      The issue is simply that they're just another toy for chavs to break the law with, and I think the real solution is probably to eliminate chavs through some kind of national purge style event, but Owen Jones says we can't do that because they're actually the victims. The victims that commit the crimes. Or something.

      We're seeing a growth in these sorts of problems a lot, not just with drones, but with many things - where the police can't adapt fast enough to deal with new types of law breaking, and where citizens aren't legally allowed to prevent it themselves either. As such, it's not surprising that such things draw a wealth of complaints, what else can people do other than complain if the police are ineffective and they're not allowed to tackle problem users themselves? There will always be people who misuse these things, and it's a question of what you do about that - you quite rightly point out that the growth in complaints is due to the growth in ownership, so I suspect this growth will only increase as problem users also grow with the growth of the overall user base. It's really just a new version of the old problem of that one guy that just has to turn his sound system up at 4am so loud that he keeps the whole neighborhood awake but where the police don't bother to tackle it and the neighbours aren't allowed to go and force him to turn it off, what else can they do but all complain?

      If it becomes too problematic then it ruins it for well behaved users when the inevitable regulatory changes come in so it should be in everyone's interest except the assholes in question to find a solution to disrespectful usage.

  3. April third's fool? by Carewolf · · Score: 1

    OMG, why is the orange back. Why won't that orange go away!

  4. So about 1 in 200 people by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1, Funny

    Last year incidents rose to 3,456

    So about 1 in 200 people reported an issue. (and that's if each incident was from a unique individual). That's a lot. But not really a staggering amount of incidents in the grand scheme of things. There were probably more cases of bestiality than that. Especially in Wales.

    --
    "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    1. Re:So about 1 in 200 people by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Last year incidents rose to 3,456

      So about 1 in 200 people reported an issue. (and that's if each incident was from a unique individual). That's a lot. But not really a staggering amount of incidents in the grand scheme of things. There were probably more cases of bestiality than that. Especially in Wales.

      Its the UK. Pretty much anything stirs up public annoyance. Brightly colored shirts stir up public annoyance. Especially in England, where its practically a hobby to be annoyed.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    2. Re:So about 1 in 200 people by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      At least a big percentage of the population does not carry guns otherwise those who get annoyed would more than likely shoot the SOB flying them.

      See, we are civilised despite your downer on us.

      The thing is, if the English did all carry guns, well there'd be a lot less of them... "That shirt offends my sensibilities!! *pew pew*" or "This is a local country for local people theres nothing for you foreigners here! *pew* *pew*" etc

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    3. Re: So about 1 in 200 people by Circle+of+Owls · · Score: 1

      Here in Texas a large number of people do carry guns however we have the self control not to shoot at things just because we're annoyed. I not sure your claim to "civilized" holds up.

    4. Re: So about 1 in 200 people by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      I hope you're being sarcastic, Texas is one of the most gun violent states there is.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    5. Re: So about 1 in 200 people by CheapEngineer · · Score: 1

      That's because they refuse to be recognized as a 'state'.

  5. Gee, snooping complaints. . . by Salgak1 · · Score: 2

    . . . meanwhile, GOVERNMENT overhead surveillance (manned and drone/satellite) has been going on for decades, and no complaints. Perhaps that KNOWING you're under surveillance makes all the difference. . .

    1. Re:Gee, snooping complaints. . . by LeftCoastThinker · · Score: 1

      That's probably part of it, but those overhead surveillance tools rarely if ever are able to look into vertical bedroom windows and do not possess 4 plus high speed spinning razor blades less than 30 feet from your face (that sound every bit the part). Further, there is a certain level of professionalism (apparently much less in the last 8 years) that I expect out of government surveillance. They are typically looking for bad actors and photos of my house or my car are not invasions of privacy. The guy flying his drone looking in my windows is NOT within his rights and has no business doing so.

      --
      If you disagree, please post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like
  6. Laws need to be amended/added by laurencetux · · Score: 1

    I know most of my circle of friends is of the opinion that a drone (not displaying a valid GovBadge) inside our property lines WILL BE SHOT DOWN or otherwise disabled.

    Folks need to be able to defend against Privacy invasion (in fact if faced with charges for using a cross bolt or firearm with less than lethal rounds inside city limits i will call the LEOs myself and explain the situation)

  7. Re:who cares by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    Sounds like you're the one obsessed with musk. Is it because he's smarter than you? Jealousy is a bad trait.

  8. Meanwhile... by NewtonsLaw · · Score: 1

    How many complaints were there of excessive noise caused by parties?

    How about barking dogs?

    Drivers speeding?

    Burglaries?

    Assaults?

    By comparison, a few complaints about drones (often from people who believe the ridiculous hysteria drummed up by the media on this subject) seems to pale into insignificance doesn't it.

    Wait... surely it's time for an other "Drone doesn't hit aircraft" story from a media bereft of all integrity and honesty!

    1. Re:Meanwhile... by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      How many complaints were there of excessive noise caused by parties?

      How about barking dogs?

      Drivers speeding?

      Burglaries?

      Assaults?

      By comparison, a few complaints about drones (often from people who believe the ridiculous hysteria drummed up by the media on this subject) seems to pale into insignificance doesn't it.

      Wait... surely it's time for an other "Drone doesn't hit aircraft" story from a media bereft of all integrity and honesty!

      Its the UK, everyone is annoyed about everything.

      Just look at the phenomenon of the ASBO and its use in creating dress codes.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  9. Drone backlash in Silicon Valley by TheNarrator · · Score: 1

    They now have plenty of "no drones allowed" signs in Silicon Valley at the public parks.

  10. How many are legitimate drone complaints? by MobyDisk · · Score: 1

    One problem is that many things are mindlessly blamed on drones now. So when a bird flies into your window at night, or your satellite dish falls off your roof, it's increasingly likely to be reported as a drone. I can't find the Slashdot headline from a year or two ago, but in the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) submitted a report citing some hundreds of complaints filed by airline pilots against drones. But when reporters and congress investigated, it turned out that less than a dozen had actual evidence of being a drone.

    1. Re:How many are legitimate drone complaints? by ls671 · · Score: 1

      I see, maybe even alien sightings are reported as drones now,,,

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
  11. Re:Shocking by Godwin+O'Hitler · · Score: 1

    To someone annoyed by a drone, I'd hazard a guess that the total number of other drones in the world is irrelevant.

    --
    No, your children are not the special ones. Nor are your pets.
  12. Send in the drones.. er clowns! by Neuronwelder · · Score: 1

    Just one more clown added to this circus called Earth. -- There was a time on this planet, when we used to be serious, courteous and mostly at peace.. It's all but gone now. :(

  13. Re:Just ban the goddamned things by CheapEngineer · · Score: 1

    Like *your* internet service. I agree. Ban the internet, Just another tool for invading people's privacy, and enabling sick-o pedophiles.