Drones

London is noisy enough without drones flying overhead. I am also concerned about privacy and for what means the surveillance will be used for. I find the amount of CCTV we use in the city bad enough without the threat of loss of privacy in and around one's house and street.

Fine for emergency services on a regulated basis but that's it. 

Drones are good for emergencies and inspections for various projects, however it's a bit worrying not knowing whom they belong to, and in the wrong hands can cause destruction.

No, no drones at all, not even for emergency services.  They are a serious menace even now when there are relatively few of them in comparison to how many there would be if they were permitted in London, used for deliveries and etc.  It is impossible to control their use currently, under the regs for model planes etc.  One major problem is the horrendous noise they make. Already this causes problems in gardens, in parks, in homes and for wildlife. Another is the fact that they are used for scaring people (zooming around after people), for spying into people's gardens and homes, and this is very hard to prevent. As for terrorism, at least if they were banned, then anyone hearing or seeing one would know it was being used illegally and maybe for terrorist purposes, and the police would be called. People have already been injured by drones. The more drones there arearound, the more there will be accidents with injuries, and the more they will be used deliberately as weapons to harm people.    No to drones. 

The utility value of drones to emergency services and businesses needs to be balanced with the impact on those around the people benefiting from their use.  Many of the commenters seem happy with the use of drones by emergency services.  I would be fine with their use in ways that help the emergency services do their jobs.  However when it comes to businesses offering services via drone I think there need to be a balanced view about the utility value compared to the impact on the people nearby.  During a recent trial of drone deliveries in Australia, nearby residents complained of the noise of drones delivering items like takeaway food over long hours every day.  I would hate to be forced to accept that constant drones flying past my house are unavoidable just because it's the shortest route for the drone to take to its destination.

Make sure that if drones are allowed, their impact on the people not benefiting from their use is considered and managed.

I think we have to be very careful about 'prejudice' against public use of 'domestic drones'. Depending on sophistication of mechanics, price, operational ability drones are toys or are clever innovative devices that enthusiasts in aerial photography or other recreational usage are able to own and safely use. Like any 'clever toy' they provide immense pleasure and recreation to a whole strata both young and old. ‘Recreational drones’ facilitate many to be out and about in the urban and wilder environs where operation of their personal ‘domestic drones’ affords healthy exercise in the open and ‘joy of their toy’. Of course, drone technology lends itself to lethal usage, as we know where the military is concerned. The same drone technology has potential for ‘disruption’ as we have seen in fairly recent news footage where airports have been affected. But, ‘illegal use’ of drones is easily manageable. I don’t own a drone. But, I see the potential for a great deal of innocent pleasure that commercial drones sold to the public can bring. YouTube has made me laugh at a particular ‘drone clip’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuDUb93mSqs

I would be very concerned about the widespread use of drones in ciies because of noise, intrusion, danger of abuse, accident. Is not the air space above anyone's property their own, at least up to a certain height, so that any drone flying into it would be a trespass? 

We recently attend a model plane and drone event.  Those who own these flying objects just enjoy their hobby just as anyone else enjoying a hobby.  I agree with licencing etc and that it is more of a positive than a negative to use new technologies.  Anything, even software, can be used for illegal purposes and as for everything reasonable laws need to be implemented.  Please do allow for spaces where those who enjoy this hobby are able to do so.  There are so many open spaces in and around London which are not in a 'flight path' where drones can be used and they don't have to fly above a certain height (as per limitations included on the drone software).  Unfortunatley as mentioned there are those who will abuse but a registration database should be implemented.  Possibly importers or even those creating bespoke drones need to register the serial numbers of the drones by sending a list to the governing authority for drones.  Any retailer would be able to access the list and supply information on the purchaser of the drone.  Once again, one would need proof of identiy to register a drone as a further deterent (nothing is full proof).  Unfortunately, one cannot stop anyone for misuing drones but usually it is only the few, not the many and to implement over regulated restrictions will not prevent or resolve anyone with harmful intent.  I hope a proactive solution can be found to control drones for all who would gain benefit whether commercial, emergency, military or personal (hobby) use.

More than happy for our first responders and special services to use them but recently had a privately owned drone flown outside my apartment window by a member of the public, this was disturbing and less than 10 meters from my balcony.  We have seen an increase in the number of drones flown near our apartment as we are by the river and directly opposite City Airport. Many have cameras. 

I would like all drones and drone users to be registered and no fly zones to be enforced. 

There may be useful purposes, though I have doubts about some of those mooted, such as postal deliveries. And any deliveries by drone might be a gift to mischievous kids (or even adults). But then licence users, with strict regulations about how, where and when they can be used.

Considering that we have had to rescue in a week a couple of drones from our garden (luckily didn't fall on top of the cherry tree!), I think they are a nuisance and they should be controlled.

Actually, having to bother to rescue them set me off thinking: what about my privacy? Yes, why can't I sit in my garden, pretty cosy and secluded, but these people with drones can get to take pictures of me in the garden?

The whole issue, like with new technology, has us, humans, eager to try them. Look what happened with mobile phones. Great technological advance that benefits Humanity but, the dark side, addictions, higher rates of suicide among youngsters, etc etc. I think we haven't had a serious conversation about drones and what are the benefits and drawbacks of such technology. How to regulate them and implement the policies of privacy and security?

I think it is a massive disregard for our privacy to be spied on by drones. I only know about it after being visited by the police looking for someone at my house who is unknown to me. Later on they sent a drone to spy further. Big brother is already too extreme. 

With amateur owned drones, I would have concerns about safety - motor failure causing a drone to drop, and  misuse - e.g. problems at Gatwick when drones flew near airport.  In the event of an accident, how do police catch those responsible?

If delivery services start to use drones, there needs to be standards set re maintenance and pilot training.  HSW Act applies.

I expect emergency services use them already, but hopefully have well trained "pilots".  There could be concerns about surveillance, but I'd rather police caught terrorists by any means.  I'm more concerned about "amateur surveillance"  e.g. by Google.  Who gave them permission to photograph my house in detail? 

The drone technology has its part to play in the betterment of human life but it is potentially dangerous and invasive.  Ownership and use must be strictly controlled.  I don't, for example, want to sit in park or on a beach with people invading my privacy and maybe my health by flying drones over me.

The saying "My right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins" is ascribed to Abraham Lincoln, "The right to swing my arms in any direction ends where your nose begins" to John Stuart.  Both are founders of our great democratic tradition.  Each of us must have the right and freedom to live our lives as best we can without other people free to invade this personal freedom.  But technology introduces huge challenges to this freedom.  Drones invading our space, engines invading our health by spewing death into the air we breathe, vehicle exhausts hollowed out to invade our hearing with the din that only pleases the driver.....and so on 

We don't want dictators; but we do need our local governments to seek agreemnt to control these life damaging side-effects without reducing our societal ability to develop new life enhancing technology

To add to my previous comment which wouldn't allow me to write the word 'p..aedophiles '. Drones will be very useful to p..aedophiles!! Hence ideally I'd like them banned other than for official uses.

Completely agree with all reservations in this discussion.  Using drones is a terrible threat to our security - look what happened a couple of months ago at Gatwick Airport!  

Medical emergencies only. Anything further is an invitation to chaos, danger and an extension of the Surveillance State.

I'm in favour of drones used by Authorities eg emergency services and police and army etc and professionals eg for industry/commercial/deliveries/ official aerial photography etc as long as they have training and an operator's licence. 

But im against them used by the general public. They can be used by voyeurs, people spying on children or females etc, criminals and spying on neighbours etc. I've already had them buzzing overhead whilst I've been in the garden and it causes me distress, stress, anxiety and privacy concerns as i don't know who is operating them or what they are seeing and recording.  There needs to be very very strict laws of usage. My main objection is invasion of privacy.

They are also dangerous and could cause serious problems if irresponsibly used.  

This needs to be a two part discussion covering official and private use of drones.