Shanghai police crack down on illegal drones

As the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays approach, police in Shanghai's downtown Huangpu district announced a crackdown on illegal drone activities to ensure low-altitude safety in the city.

This initiative targets areas across the district, with a focus on bustling commercial zones and popular tourist spots, where unauthorized drone flights have been frequent this year.

The police operation aims to address violations, such as flying drones without proper registration and operating micro, light, and small civilian drones in restricted airspace. Utilizing intelligent systems, the police will conduct round-the-clock patrols to monitor these activities.

Authorities said that during the upcoming holidays from Oct 1 through Oct 8, areas like tourist attractions and commercial centers will become densely populated, and illegal drone flights pose potential threats to public safety.

From January to early September, Shanghai police handled over 380 cases of illegal drone activities, resulting in administrative penalties for more than 380 individuals and the confiscation of over 110 drones. The police also increased their efforts in public awareness, broadcasting reminders at popular locations like the Bund, and installing warning signs.

In September, several incidents of illegal drone flights were reported in the Bund scenic area, mostly involving tourists. On Sept 27, the police swiftly responded to a drone taking off from the rooftop of the Peace Hotel, where they found a foreigner operating the device.