Tuesday, 3 March 2015 - 11:55
Drone use allowed for Police, Fire Dept.
The cabinet wants to give the police and fire department more power to deploy drones for assistance, detection and maintenance of public order from July 1st.
Minister Ivo Opstelten (Security and Justice), Minister Henk Kamp (Economic Affairs) and State Secretary Wilma Mansveld (Infrastructure and Environment) wrote this in a letter to the Tweede Kamer (lower house of parliament) today.
The Ministers want to give the police and firefighters permission to fly drowns over buildings and crowds and to deploy drones after sunset. The Cabinet is also looking at other possibilities for the professional use of drones, such as using drones in the inspection of infrastructure, guarding property, climatic research, agriculture, horticulture and media.
The ministers write that they are looking for a good balance with the social interests of safety, aviation and privacy. The current legislation contains sufficient safeguards to protect privacy in the current use of drones, but if the regulation is extended they will also consider additional safeguards for privacy protection. The Cabinet will also examine whether the rules for recreational use of drones should be adapted.