A drone has been seized after its operator was caught flying near a school in Wiltshire.
Plain clothed officers were deployed following reports of an unmanned aerial vehicle hovering close to a number of schools in the Salisbury River Park area on on Friday (8 May).
Nearby are multiple education establishments, including St Paul’s Primary School and South Wilts Grammar School.
While in many circumstances it is legal to fly drones in the vicinity of schools, convicted paedophile Jeremy Bird was recently sentenced for filming children with one.
The recent drone sightings sparked serious concerns, with police launching an operation to locate and question the drone operator responsible for the recent flights.
“A drone operator was stopped by plain clothes officers”, a Wiltshire Police spokesperson said.
Adding: “Checks of the drone showed only a flight path covering the new Salisbury River Park project being used to take progress photos.”
However, it was found the man – aged in his 50s – had been using the drone without a flyer ID, operator ID or the required insurance for business use.
“The operator was subsequently reported for drone offences, including no flyer or operator ID and no insurance, and the drone was seized”, the spokesperson continued.
“We are aware of the local community tension around the flying of drones near schools currently, and we would like to reassure you that last week’s sightings are not related to the recent criminal conviction.
“Salisbury neighbourhood officers will continue to patrol the local area, and any drone operators will be stopped, and all documents will be checked.
“Please continue to report any suspicious or concerning behaviour to us and we will investigate.”
