From delivering medical supplies to capturing stunning aerial shots, drones have become a fixture in our skies. But alongside their benefits, concerns are growing about their role in criminal activity and their impact on privacy and security, especially in residential areas, public venues, and other sensitive locations.

For security professionals, drones are a double-edges sword: tools that can save lives, yet also vehicles for smuggling, espionage and disruption. 

Drones in Everyday Spaces

In the right hands, drones are game changers:

• Emergency response: Rapid aerial assessments in hazardous areas, reducing risk to personnel.
• Infrastructure inspection: Local authorities use drones to survey bridges, railways, and utilities with minimal disruption.
• Private security & property monitoring: Enabling perimeter checks and incident verification.

But the same technology is increasingly used against us.

The Criminal Edge

One of the clearest examples comes from the UK prisons. Between April 2024 and March 2025, drone enabled smuggling surged 43%, from 1,196 incidents to 1,712. The cargo? Drugs, weapons, mobile phones and contraband too dangerous to reach inmates any other way.

This isn't an isolated sector problem. The same tactics can easily be deployed over private properties, event venues or corporate sites.

When Drones Cross Boundaries

Persistent drone flights over private property risk breaching UK GDPR and may constitute harassment or trespassing. These risks can also extend to data theft, surveillance, and physical infiltration. 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) advices those affected to document incidents, report them to police or the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), and avoid direct confrontation with drone operators. Many organisations now employ drone detection systems to spot threats before they cause harm.  

Flying by the Rules in 2025

In the UK, all drone pilots (hobbyists or professional) must: 

• Keep drones within visual line of sight.
• Maintain at least 50m distance from people, vehicles and buildings.
• Stay below 400ft altitude.
• Avoid airports and flight restricted zones.
• Abstain from flying over crowds, even with drones under 250g. 

Operators can use tools like the Drone Assist app to identify no fly zones, while commercial operators must be certified by the Civil Aviation Authority.

2026: New Rules on the Horizon

From January 2026, the UK will introduce new drone classifications (UK0-UK6) and updated regulations:

• Drones over 100g will be required to broadcast their location and operator ID via Direct Remote ID.
• Geo-awareness technology will prevent flights in restricted areas.
  
• Night flying will require flashing anti-collision lights.

By 2028, even older or home built drones must comply.

Why this Matters for Security Professionals

Legal interpretations are shifting. Low altitude airspace above private property may soon be more explicitly recognised as part of that property, potentially giving owners stronger legal recourse against intrusive flights. 

For the security industry, this means:

• Incorporating drone threat assessments into site security planning.
• Investing in detection and counter drone technology.
• Staying on top of evolving regulations to ensure enforcement actions are valid and defensible.

The Bottom Line

Drones are rewriting the security playbook. They're fast, accessible, and can evade traditional ground-based surveillance. This makes drone awareness, detection technology a must have for any comprehensive security strategy.

The organisations that proactively integrate counter drone measures today will be the ones least surprised by what's hovering over their perimeter tomorrow.