Britain mulls new measures preventing drone misuse

LONDON - The British government announced on Thursday that it would consult on new measures to prevent the misuse of drones, including on-the-spot fines and the ability to seize them if necessary.

The measures in the consultation are part of a wider program of new drone legislation and will shape the content of a draft Drones Bill due to be published later this year, according to the government.

The proposed measures include: using new counter-drone technology to protect public events and critical national infrastructure and stop contraband reaching prisons, introducing minimum age restrictions for drone owners in addition to the new tests they will need to take, and proposals for regulating and mandating the use of "apps" on which pilots would file flight plans ahead of take-off, etc.

To prevent the misuse of drones, the government has already introduced safety measures like a height limit, and rules around airports. The police and security personnel already have powers to address the misuse of drones, but these new proposals are aimed at reinforcing the importance of complying with drone safety rules, and create a tailored toolkit to ensure they are observed.

"Drones present exciting benefits to our society and our economy, but with a small group of people choosing to use them for harm there are challenges we must overcome if we are to prevent them hindering the potential of this technology," said Baroness Sugg, Britain's aviation minister.