Children may be banned from flying heavy drones

CHILDREN could be banned from flying drones any heavier than half a pound (250g) amid soaring complaints about the technology’s misuse.

Other public safety measures under consideration by the Department for Transport include giving police the power to issue on-the-spot fines of up to £300 for misuse and seize drones flown irresponsibly.

While many drones are lighter than the proposed 250g limit for under-18s, heavier versions can fly further and cause more damage. A 400g device could smash a helicopter windscreen, while one weighing 2kg could do the same to an airliner.

The DFT is also considering ways to protect prisons, public events and national infrastructure from drone disruption.

Police are being flooded with complaints about drone use, including in burglaries and smuggling drugs into prisons.

In 2016, 3,456 incidents were reported – triple the previous year. There were also 93 nearmisses with aircraft last year, leading to a tightening of restrictions from Monday, which bans drones being flown above 400m and within one kilometre (0.6 miles) of an airport.

A Government consultation on the crackdown plans will be launched today, with a draft Drones Bill due to be published later this year.

‘Could smash a plane windscreen’