A West London council is preparing to use drones to bolster its enforcement teams as local authorities across the country quietly build aerial surveillance fleets.
A report by Hammersmith and Fulham council sets out plans to deploy drones to support its 70-strong “law enforcement team”, which issued more than 2,200 fines in 2024. The aircraft will be used to target “anti-social behaviour and fly tipping”, even though the borough sits in a “dangerous zone” because of Heathrow air traffic and includes a flight restriction area due to Wormwood Scrubs Prison.
The report says police “do not have sufficient officer numbers to provide a visible deterrent in all cases or take the desired action”, adding that council drones and CCTV systems – some equipped with live AI facial recognition – can “help combat crime and anti-social behaviour”.
It comes as local authorities nationwide amass fleets of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and train staff as pilots. A freedom of information request shows more than 60 city, borough and district councils now have authorised drone pilots, although the true figure is expected to be far higher, as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) only records pilots whose training was funded by their employer. Another 12 councils have contacted the regulator for advice on drone laws.
Privacy groups warn the growing use of drones risks expanding intrusive surveillance.
Jake Hurfurt of Big Brother Watch said: “There may be a role for drones in helping councils monitor flooding or conduct land surveys, but local authorities must not use the technology as spies in the sky.
“Britain is already one of the most surveilled countries on earth with CCTV cameras on street corners. We do not need flying cameras, too. Councils must make sure that they do not use this technology for intrusive monitoring of their citizens. Just because it’s possible, it does not mean it’s something they should do.”
Some councils already operate extensive fleets. Sunderland city council runs 13 UAVs with eight qualified pilots and two more in training. Its website says drones are used to “detect and prevent crime and disorder, investigate reports of environment crime and carry out enforcement investigations”, as well as for surveys and monitoring public events. The scale of its operation has prompted concern that its trained pilots could be poached by other authorities hoping to expand drone programmes.
Others deploy drones for planning enforcement and issuing penalties. North West Leicestershire district council has two operators targeting fly tipping and planning disputes, with aerial footage used in prosecutions. Stockton-on-Tees borough council has five trained pilots and eight devices available for infrastructure surveys and monitoring “anti-social behaviour”. Newcastle city council has two drones, three qualified pilots and five more in training, with plans for some to use drones for anti-social behaviour.
North Norfolk council operates four drones for “coastal surveyance”, including footage of large planning or enforcement disputes. Thurrock council is authorised to use drones to “detect and prevent crime”.
Many councils also use UAVs for property surveys, including bridges and roofs, and to monitor flooding or coastal erosion. But some are taking a firmer stance. Tendring district council in Essex states it “will not use a drone for any surveillance footage”, saying its three devices were purchased for “communications, marketing, operational and committee services”.
Anyone flying a drone heavier than 250g must pass a test and obtain a flyer ID from the CAA.
