UK police criticised for using drones to monitor lockdown avoiders
A UK police force's use of drones to monitor individuals allegedly violating lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic sparked condemnation as disproportionate invasion of civil liberties. What happened Derbyshire Police tweeted drone footage taken near Curbar Edge, in England's Peak District, and said they had checked the numberplates of vehicles in the car park and found that some cars were registered to addresses in Sheffield, a 30-minute drive away. The initiative aimed to deter people from congregating in public spaces and enforce social distancing measures across the area. But it was seen as an effort to publicly shame people into not driving into a national park , and was called out by civil rights advocates as disproportionate and an unnecessary infringement of personal privacy. Big Brother Watch condemned the activity as "sinister" and "counter-productive". Others labelled the practice as "nanny policing". Why it happened The decision to use drones was part of a broader effort by law enforcement across the UK to ensure compliance with government-imposed restrictions during the pandemic. The police believed that showcasing footage of lockdown violations would discourage others from breaking the rules. What it means The use of drones sparked a heated debate about the nature of privacy and civil liberties under COVID-19. Derbyshire Police later acknowledged that they could not effectively prevent people from walking in public spaces, which was permitted under UK law, signifying a recognition of the limitations and overreach of their tactics. System 🤖 DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise 🔗 Developer: SZ DJI Technology Co Country: UK - England Sector: Govt - police Purpose: Discourage lockdown violations Technology: Dro ne; Thermal imaging Issue: Human/civil rights; Privacy; Surveillance Legal, advocacy 🧮 Big Brother Watch. Derby Telegraph – Derbyshire Police criticised for use of drones to survey citizens
- Date it happened
- 2020-03-01
- Organisation involved
- Derbyshire Constabulary
- Product, system or model
- DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise
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