Police chief says sorry over arrest
Top officer speaks out as Gatwick disruption probe continues
The Chief Constable of Sussex Police has revealed some of the drone sightings during the Gatwick airport chaos may have been the force’s own devices.
The airport suffered massive disruption in the days before Christmas after being forced to close repeatedly over three days, following reports a drone was flying near the runaway.
Chief Constable Giles York also said he feels “really sorry” for the couple who were held for 36 hours over the incident before being cleared of any involvement.
Two drones found near the airport have now been ruled out of the investigation. Police have not yet found the drone involved and do not know its model.
Around 1,000 flights had to be cancelled or diverted from December 19-21, with more than 140,000 passengers affected by the disruption.
Mr York said police received 115 reports of sightings in the area, including 92 which have been confirmed as coming from “credible people”.
But he acknowledged that there may have been some “confusion” caused by the fact that Sussex Police launched its own drones in the hunt for the craft.
He said: “Of course, we will have launched our own Sussex Police drones at the time with a view to investigate, with a view to engage, with a view to survey the area looking for the drone, so there could be some level of confusion there.”
The Chief Constable said he was “really sorry” for Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk from Crawley, West Sussex, who were detained in the wake of the disruption, but said that the grounds for arrest were “well founded” in lawful suspicion.
After being released without charge on Christmas Eve, Mr Gait, 47, told how they felt “completely violated” and “deeply distressed” and were receiving medical care.
Breaking down in tears as he stood next to his wife, he said: “Our home has been searched and our privacy and identity completely exposed.
“Our names, photos and other personal information has been broadcast throughout the world.
“The way we were initially perceived is disgusting, although those that knew us didn’t doubt us for a second.”
Mr York defended the decision to hold Mr Gait for an extended period, despite his employer saying he was at work during the drone flights.
He said: “I’m really sorry for what he has experienced and the feeling of violation around it.
“I am really sorry for what he went through, but the reason why we held him was so that we could dispel everything in the first instance.
“What might have been worse as an experience for him would have been to be released under investigation still.
“We are able to exhaust all our lines of inquiry on that first instance and, however hard it is, able to release him from police custody saying he is no longer a suspect in this line of inquiry. That’s why we took the time – in order to allow him the best opportunity to put his life back on the rails.”
Last week there was further confusion when detectives investigating the incident said it was possible there were never any drones flying near Gatwick.
But Mr York said they were simply trying to explain the investigative approach taken by the force.
He added: “I am absolutely certain that there was a drone flying throughout the period that the airport was closed.”
He said military technology was now in place at Gatwick, though he declined to identify the exact nature of the equipment.
He added: “The systems that are in place today are dramatically different to what was in place a week ago.”
However he admitted he couldn’t rule out any similar incidents happening in the future.
He said: “But what we can say is what is at the heart of this is ensuring it is safe for the aircraft to take off and that’s the different position that Gatwick Airport finds itself in today.
Gatwick Airport is offering a £50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the drone chaos, with a further £10,000 being offered through Crimestoppers.
The systems that are in place today are dramatically different to what was in place a week ago – Sussex Police Chief Constable