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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.

5 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 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
  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.

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    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.

  3. 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. . .