Police should be able to better intervene in use of unmanned aircraft and drones

The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project with the aim of ensuring that the police have necessary powers to intervene in the use of drones and unmanned aircraft, vessels and other vehicles. The project will also examine the possibility of the police to use these powers in their work.

As technology develops, drones, unmanned aircraft and other unmanned vehicles are used more and more for recreational and commercial purposes and also by authorities. Drones may pose a risk to people or the environment, for example because of their use or properties.

The powers of the police to intervene in the use of unmanned aircraft and drones are currently insufficient. The police may not, for example, intervene if an unmanned aircraft is equipped with cameras and the user commits illegal intelligence gathering or illicit observation that violates the right to privacy. The powers of the police are also insufficient when investigating whether an aircraft poses a danger to life or health or whether the user commits one of the crimes mentioned above.

The Government Programme states that growing risks and new threats demand a new kind of preparedness and contingency planning. This applies, in particular, to new and large-scale threats, such as the defence against hybrid attacks.

The project runs from 14 March 2018 to 31 December 2018.

Inquiries:
Elina Rantakokko, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 611, [email protected]