London airport police to use surveillance drones

Drones will be given to police forces guarding major airports first

Police guarding London airports will start using drones for surveillance following a review by counter-terrorism officers.

An 18-month analysis by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters, which helps develop police policy, found the technology could be "transformative".

Privacy campaigners said they were concerned about the plans.

Police are also to take over investigations into drone misuse.

There are an estimated 50,000 drones in the UK

Following a successful trial at Gatwick airport over the past year, drones will be given to units guarding Heathrow, Stansted, Luton and City airports.

Selected airports in other parts of the UK will also use the technology.

The equipment will be rolled out over the next 18 months.

BBC London has also learned police will take responsibility from for investigating the irresponsible or illegal use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

'Seven times faster'

There are now estimated to be more than 50,000 drones in the UK and the move reflects growing concern over the damage they could cause in the wrong hands.

Counter-terrorism officers are also concerned about the publicity extremists could gain if they flew a flag or banner over a prominent central London location.

On Wednesday a drone carrying radioactive material landed on the roof of the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's residence. No-one was injured.

George Trebess from the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters said it was also possible that drones could be used during major incidents, including sieges or standoffs involving firearms.

Speaking to security experts at the Counter Terror Expo in London, he said: "The technology is transformative.

"With the new system we will be able to carry out missions around seven times faster than ground-based activity and at around 10% of the cost. We estimate £1.2m would be saved in three years."

It is thought the savings would come through having fewer officers patrolling airports on foot.

Emma Carr of Big Brother Watch, which campaigns over state surveillance, called for clear information about how police planned to use the drones.

She called for a "better understanding of how they're used and who they're being used by".