There are plenty of rules which too many are either ignorant of or chose to ignore. As for the operatives, from WSU concourse before the game, we saw a couple of blokes carrying a drone along the path in the University grounds and they didn't particularly look like Police, more like some media students. Of course, they might just have been demonstrating it's capabilities to the Police.
From the website http://droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements
As you can see, the rules apply to everyone except the requirement for CAA permission for commercial work!
SUMMARY OF UK LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
This is a summary of the legal situation in as plain English as we can do! Please refer to the air navigation order on the CAA site for specific details.
The operation of the aircraft must not endanger anyone or anything.
The aircraft must be kept within the visual line of sight (normally taken to be within 500 m horizontally and 400 ft vertically) of its remote pilot (i.e. the ‘person in charge’ of it). Operations beyond these distances must be approved by the CAA (the basic premise being for the operator to prove that he/she can do this safely).
Small unmanned aircraft (irrespective of their mass) that are being used for surveillance purposes are subject to tighter restrictions with regard to the minimum distances that you can fly near people or properties that are not under your control. If you wish to fly within these minima, permission is required from the CAA before operations are commenced.
CAA permission is also required for all flights that are being conducted for aerial work (i.e. in very simple terms, you are getting paid for doing it).
The 'remote pilot' has the responsibility for satisfying him/herself that the flight can be conducted safely.
The aircraft must not be flown:
over or within 150 metres of any congested area
over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons;
within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft
within 50 metres of any person except during take-off or landing, the aircraft must not be flown within 30 metres of any person except for the person in charge of the aircraft.
Details of UK restricted airspace can be found at www.skydemonlight.com
Careful note should be taken that the collection of images of identifiable individuals, even inadvertently, when using surveillance cameras mounted on a small unmanned surveillance aircraft, will be subject to the Data Protection Act. As this Act contains requirements concerning the collection, storage and use of such images, Small Unmanned Aircraft operators should ensure that they are complying with any such applicable requirements or exemptions. Further information about the Data Protection Act and the circumstances in which it applies can be obtained from the Information Commissioner’s Office and website: www.ico.org.uk
