Military-style spy planes 'to be used to target civilians in the UK'

The Daily Mail (U.K.) / various ^ | January 23, 2009

[Stoat]

Unmanned drones similar to those used in Afghanistan are set to be used in Britain to spy on drivers, campaigners, agricultural thieves and fly-tippers, it was revealed today.

A group of government agencies led by Kent Police has commissioned arms manufacturer BAE systems to adapt military-style planes for civilian use.

The consortium aims to have the drones operating in British skies in time for the 2012 Olympics. 

The revelations are likely to prompt 'Big Brother' accusations from civil libertarians.

 

CCTV in the sky: Unmanned drones, similar to this Force Protection Airborne Surveillance plane, are set to be used in the UK

According to a report published in the Guardian, a prototype drone equipped with high-powered cameras and sensors will take to the skies for test flights later this year.

BAE Systems and Kent police reportedly claim that the drones would 'greatly extend' the government's surveillance capacity and 'revolutionise policing.'

The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reluctant to license UAVs in normal airspace because of the risk of collisions with other aircraft, but adequate 'sense and avoid' systems for drones are only a few years away.

[Stoat]

Translation Assistance:

fly-tippers

People who illegally dump trash.

********************************

Here's the original Guardian article that this Daily Mail piece is based upon:

CCTV in the sky police plan to use military-style spy drones UK news The Guardian

*******************************

My apologies for the severe editing of this post....this was done in order to remain in compliance with Free Republic rules pertaining to the posting of articles from the UK Daily Mail and the Guardian.  Please click on the main article links to read the full story.

[Stoat]

However reports suggest their use could be far more widespread - including detecting theft from cash machines, preventing theft of tractors and monitoring antisocial driving.

The consortium also suggested the drones could be used by councils to combat 'fly-posting, fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles, abnormal loads, waste management'.

Five other police forces have signed up to the scheme, which could pave the way for countrywide adoption of the technology for surveillance, monitoring and evidence gathering.
 

The consortium's mission is to introduce the drones 'into the routine work of the police, border authorities and other government agencies,' according to documents obtained by the Guardian.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

The revelations are likely to prompt 'Big Brother' accusations from civil libertarians.

Ya think?

[driftdiver]

How long before they install hellfire missiles on em?

[Stoat]

How long before they install hellfire missiles on em?

Considering the immediate and widespread lethal threat to the public as presented by the theft of farm tractors, it won't be any too soon for me. ('snicker')

 

including detecting theft from cash machines, preventing theft of tractors and monitoring antisocial driving.

[NewHampshireDuo]

For older Brits maybe this will bring back fond memories of the V-1. Updated technology, similar fascists behind them.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

The really disturbing thing is the British Army (and the American one as well for that matter) has been getting lots of lovely counter-insurgency warfare experience out in Afghanistan and Iraq that will no doubt come in extremely useful at some point in the future should there be a need for the military to employ those skills a little closer to home....

[driftdiver]

meanwhile young women who grab a knife to protect themselves from men trying to break in will be told they are breaking the law.

[VanShuyten]

How about “fly-posting”? Guys who tack up ads on phone poles?

[spokeshave]

Fly-tippers...?

I heard of cow tipping...?

and someones sister was bitten by a moose...

[Concho]

So, if we would see one of these buggers overhead, here in the US, we would be within our rights and duties to shoot it down, no?

I think that 4-5 good riflemen could bring one of them down.
Hear no evil.
See no evil.
Speak no evil.

[DesertRhino]

“used in Britain to spy on drivers, campaigners, agricultural thieves and fly-tippers,,,”

What is a campaigner? Why is it bad?

[Stoat]

meanwhile young women who grab a knife to protect themselves from men trying to break in will be told they are breaking the law.

Indeed, and with this, the Government will ALWAYS have an argument against allowing the public to defend themselves more effectively from criminals.  When people complain that they are under siege from criminals and gangs, they can be told "Well, this obviously means that we don't have enough CCTV surveillance in your area.  Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and your taxes will now be raised in order to pay for the additional cameras and staff to monitor them. "

[driftdiver]

I’ve read articles indicating most cameras in the UK are not actually monitored.

[Stoat]

How about “fly-posting”? Guys who tack up ads on phone poles?

Exactly right!

fly-posting - Wiktionary

fly-posting

 English

 Noun

Singular fly-posting

1. The act or activity of illegally putting up posters, especially for advertisement, in unauthorized areas.

[Stoat]

Fly-tippers...?

I heard of cow tipping...?

and someones sister was bitten by a moose...
 

Fly-tippers are people who dump trash illegally.

I'm not aware of moose being very numerous in the UK, so the concern of them biting someone's sister may not be very pressing ;-)

Fly-tippers...?

I heard of cow tipping...?

and someones sister was bitten by a moose...
 

[DesertRhino]

“has been getting lots of lovely counter-insurgency warfare experience out in Afghanistan and Iraq”

Different ball game at home in the USA. Overseas is a lot safer for them to ply their trade. IE,, say,,, an F-16 pilot bombing targets in Colorado, opens his mail, and sees a few helpful photos of his kids walking into school.
Say,,, a worker at the factory that builds hellfires or MREs gets mysteriously carjacked on the way to work. Sayyyy,,, some grunts decide they dont like killing Americans. Fighting on TOP of your own logistical tail is a different animal than iraq.

Thats just off the top of the head,, Counterinsurgency is WAY harder on the home turf. Against an armed populace its harder in spades. Thats why most nations can’t do it. Not to mention even our military would be horrifyingly outnumbered if they attacked their own people, which they won’t.

[airborne]

I'm not aware of moose being very numerous in the UK, so the concern of them biting someone's sister may not be very pressing ;-)

[Stoat]

So, if we would see one of these buggers overhead, here in the US, we would be within our rights and duties to shoot it down, no?

I think that 4-5 good riflemen could bring one of them down.

They would need to have considerably better rifles and sighting optics than I do.... from the article:

BAE drones are programmed to take off and land on their own, stay airborne for up to 15 hours and reach heights of 20,000ft, making them invisible from the ground.


 

So, if we would see one of these buggers overhead, here in the US, we would be within our rights and duties to shoot it down, no?

I think that 4-5 good riflemen could bring one of them down.

[Stoat]

I’ve read articles indicating most cameras in the UK are not actually monitored.

Perhaps many are dummy cams or are only monitored as needed?

Regardless, I feel far safer here in the USA where I can depend upon myself and not be forced to rely upon an unseen and perhaps nonexistent CCTV monitoring-person deciding whether or not I am in danger and then deciding whether or not he wants to phone the police to respond.