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Surveillance drones to be used across major UK airports, including Heathrow, Stansted, Luton and City. AFP

London airport police will soon be using drones for surveillance following a successful trial at the Gatwick airport and a review by counter-terrorism officers.

The technology that is being termed as "transformative" was developed by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters after a thorough analysis and will be launched over the next 18 months.

The technology is transformative. With the new system we will be able to carry out missions around seven times faster than ground-based activity and at around 10% of the cost. We estimate £1.2m would be saved in three years.
- George Trebess, National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters

Drones will be used across major UK airports, including but not limited to Heathrow, Stansted, Luton and City airports, reported BBC News.

"The technology is transformative. With the new system we will be able to carry out missions around seven times faster than ground-based activity and at around 10% of the cost," said George Trebess from the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters.

"We estimate £1.2m would be saved in three years."

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will reportedly hand over responsibility of investigating any illegal use of drones to police.

Criticism pours in

Campaigners expressed their concerns about the plans saying the over 50,000 drones that are presently reported on being in the UK can fall in the wrong hands.

CAA prohibits the flying of drones over or within a radius of 150m from public or built-up places, reported BBC News.

Several drones were seen flying over populated areas across London, Liverpool and Nottingham in videos uploaded to YouTube in 2014.

Drones that can be purchased for £300 according to sources were flown over football matches and funfairs.

"They look like toys. For anyone buying one you feel like you're flying a toy 'copter when actually you've got a hazardous helicopter that can come down and injure somebody," said Jordan Brooks from the Upper Cut Productions –a company that uses drones to film legally.

"We've been doing this for 10 years but it's always been a concern of ours that something could happen that could affect the entire industry.

"Our livelihoods could be in danger by the operator of a drone that puts lives at risks but our main concern is the safety of people rather than our business."

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