Should the Government slap an instant ban on the flying of drones?

IT WAS time to act on drones ten years ago. But, as usual, politicians did nothing. You should need a licence to buy a drone, which needs to be sold with a tracking device. Manufacturers should also supply jamming systems to the police so they can disable or destroy these pests.

IAN DUNLOP, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. I haVe worked at Gatwick, so even before the most recent incident, I was well aware how serious can be the disruption caused by drones. The possession of drones should receive the same security investigation a firearms application receives. It has now been shown that just a few evil-intentioned people with a handful of cheap drones could ground all aircraft in the UK, something hitler failed to do. The flying of drones should be banned until a public inquiry has investigated and

reported on how to control this technology. Once again the Government has failed to keep up with technical advance. ARTHUR ROBERTS, Newmarket, Suffolk.

WHAT’S really worrying about the drone incident is just how far the Government is behind the times. You didn’t need to be a technical whiz-kid to know that the minute these things went on the market, something like this was bound to happen, so why didn’t the authorities act? Why isn’t there an electronic defence? Why aren’t buyers obliged to have a licence? Why isn’t there an electronic device on board each drone to show who owns it, with a jammer to allow the authorities to shut it down? Will Westminster or Buckingham Palace be targeted next? When it comes to technology, a bunch of 15-year olds would have more sense than MPs.

JOHN RUSSELL, Wokingham, Berks. AFTER the incompetence of the authorities in dealing with this, one thing is clear: there is no need for anyone to be allowed to have one of these machines as a toy or as a right. There is a case for drones to be used by industry and law enforcement, but these should be registered and licensed. No one else should be allowed to own or operate one. JAMES B. SINCLAIR,

St Helier, Jersey.

BRITAIN allowed an airport to be closed down because of a few drones. What a national disgrace. Putin or Trump would have given an order at the outset: deal with this farcical situation.

JOE BLEASE, Heysham, Lancs.