Drone reports in 2017

The request was successful.

Dear Sussex Police,

I represent a national directory of commercial drone operators. I am trying to give some clarity to our members on media reports.

It has been reported in the media following an FOI request from a Dr Alan McKenna, that there was a nationwide increase in drone related 101/999 reports in 2017, up 32% on 2016.
Amongst these calls there will be calls from legal drone operators to notify the police of the fact they're operating in an area of risk, say a city centre for example or within a school. There will be calls from people who have lost a drone or had one stolen by someone else. Therefore it's unlikely all the calls related to crimes that were actually being committed using a drone. I seek to clarify this.
Can you answer any of the following:

1. Can you breakdown the categories of the all calls relating to drones? I.e. how many calls were from legal operators, how many were reports of noise nuisance and so on?

2. Of the calls made to the police on the subject of drones, how many calls actually turned out to be crimes being committed? How many were attended by officers and how many led to an arrest?

3. In total, how many calls were made to your force through 101/999 in 2017 on all subject matters?

Yours faithfully,

Lee Ballard

Sussex Police

Date: 24.05.2018

Your Ref: Freedom of Information request - Drone reports in 2017

Our Ref: FOI 562.18

Contact Name: Roger Brace FOI Officer

Contact number: 101 ext 545251

Dear Lee,

Thank you for your request which has been received by Sussex Police.

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Yours sincerely

D Hilton sent on behalf of the FOI Officer

Sussex Police HQ
Lewes
BN7 2DZ

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Dear Sussex Police,

Thank you fro your help.

Yours faithfully,

Lee Ballard