As with all new developments in technology, there are always benefits and disadvantages to consider, and whilst the increasing use of drones can be useful for amateur aerial photography and the like, it also poses a new security issue to be taken into consideration.
The Police have reported several incidences this year involving the use of drones whereby burglars are using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in order to observe potential victim’s homes.
In March 2015 the House of Lords released a report, outlining strict restrictions imposed on drone flights in the UK. The guidelines set out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) do state that drones must only be flown at least 50m from people, buildings and airports and no higher than 400ft or out of the pilot’s sight. However, due to their nature, this is a particularly difficult area to enforce, meaning that there are still opportunities that are being taken by would-be burglars, who want a new way of “casing” a property.
Consumer drones that also comprise built-in cameras can be easily purchased for as little as £30 making it very easy for someone to stand around the corner from a property and use the drone to seek out weaknesses in its security, like open windows, see whether a property has a burglar alarm or older patio doors. This is an obvious risk to privacy.
Other laws are set out to protect individuals from harassment which may also come into play if a drone is not used in the way that it should be, breaching privacy and the Data Protection Act.
In summary, there are regulations that can assist you should you find yourself in a situation where your privacy or property has been violated by the use of a drone with a camera, but it brings up the age-old concern for home security highlighting the fact that you should be vigilant and thorough when securing your home, as there may be a chance that someone will uncover that one weakness in your home security that you thought was not obvious.
If you believe your home’s security can be fortified or if you’re considering CCTV installation or Burglar Alarm installation in Oxfordshire or the surrounding areas, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call Paul today on 0800 193 0432, send me an email or get in touch through our enquiry form.