Crackdown on drones sees introduction of safety test

Anyone buying a drone will soon have to pass a safety test under a new Government crackdown. The blitz announced today will also ban drones from flying near airports, require larger gadgets to be officially registered and tighten up rules on flying them too high. Police will be given new powers to ground drones flown by rogue operators and seize them for evidence. The move comes after The Mail on Sunday highlighted the security threat posed by the gadgets, and after a series of potentially catastrophic near-misses with aircraft. Drones are set to be one of the hottest-selling gifts again this Christmas, but Ministers have raised safety and privacy concerns as their cost comes down and their use becomes more widespread.