A Norfolk man has made legal history as the first in the UK to be convicted for flying a drone over a live emergency response, with police hailing the case as a landmark prosecution.
Drone Hobby Turns Criminal
Christopher McEwen pleaded guilty to flying a drone over an active emergency incident. But that wasn’t all—he also admitted to 16 other drone-related offences.
Why Drones Over Emergencies Are a Nightmare for Police
- Unauthorised drones clog restricted airspace, stopping emergency services from using their own essential drones.
- Police, paramedics, and firefighters rely on drones to coordinate resources, spot people in danger, and manage risk—unauthorised drones halt all that.
- Such interference risks lives, putting responders and the public in harm’s way.
Police Issues Stark Warning to Drone Users
“Operating a drone over an emergency without permission is illegal and dangerous,” said Norfolk Police. “McEwen’s conviction should be a clear warning to all drone operators to respect restricted airspace, especially during live incidents where lives are at stake.”
This first-of-its-kind conviction sends a strong message: messing with blue-light responses from the sky will not be tolerated.
