A drone operator in the UK has been arrested accused of recording Premier League football matches — and breaking rules about flying unmanned vehicles over populated areas.
The Metropolitan Police said that Nigel Wilson, 43, from Nottingham, was summoned to Westminster Magistrates Court for flying a drone over Anfield in Liverpool, Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Derby Stadium, Leicester's King Power Stadium, the Nottingham Forest Stadium and Stoke’s Britannia Stadium.
Police said that Wilson also flew his drone over HMS Belfast and The Shard without maintaining direct eye contact, and also flew close to the House of Parliament. The full list of offences was published on the Met Police’s website.
Flying drones in congested areas can contravene the Air Navigation Order 2009 if done so without permission of the Civil Aviation Authority.
A CAA spokesperson told the Independent: "We can confirm that we have assisted the police in preparing this prosecution. There are clear rules and regulations in place regarding the flying of drones in the UK and it is the responsibility of users to spend time fully understanding what those rules are."
Many videos of football matches filmed from above by drones are still viewable on YouTube — though most are uploaded anonymously.