It is a testament to how wide civilian drone use is becoming when policing authorities have to issue a warning for people NOT to bring their flying toys to a gathering.

But that is what the law enforcement authorities in the city of Leicester in the UK have done.

With the city preparing to celebrate the Indian festival of Diwali later this month, police have declared that certain areas will be temporarily declared no fly zones for drones for the duration of the festivities. Bottom of Form

Diwali celebrations light up Leicester every year, attracting thousands of people to the city’s Golden Mile and making for an incredible sight.

But those wanting to capture the moment using drone cameras will have to put those plans to bed.

And the law enforcement authorities sound really serious about this too: anyone caught flying a drone over Belgrave Road and Cossington Recreation Ground during Diwali this year could be prosecuted or have their device seized.

This year’s switch-on event falls on Sunday, October 9 with a second event for Diwali day on Monday, October 24 – amid the backdrop of tensions across east Leicester, largely between Muslim and Hindu communities, according to a report in the Leicester Mercury.

The no-fly zone will be activated from Sunday, October 9 to Monday, October 10 for the switch-on celebrations; and from Monday, October 24 to Tuesday, October 25 between 2pm and 2am.

“In the interests of public safety, a no-drone zone will be operating over Cossington Park and surrounding one nautical mile radius from October 9–10 between 2pm and 2am and October 24–25 at the same time,” said Assistant Chief Constable Streets.

“This Airspace Restriction has been authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport and makes it a criminal offence to fly a drone within this area at the designated times, irrelevant of weight.

“Police will be operating drones at the event in the interest of public safety and will be ensuring that this restriction is complied with. Those who do not comply are liable to prosecution and to having their drone seized.”

Police added that the zone will stretch for a nautical-mile wide radius over the area surrounding Golden Mile and Cossington Recreation Ground.

The Mercury further reported that the Leicester City Council already has stringent rules around drones being used over land under its jurisdiction, which prohibit the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for recreational, amateur, social, or hobby purposes – with only some exceptions for specific circumstances.

The police will implement no drone rule in addition as part of its Diwali policing campaign, which it runs annually.

Big crowds are expected this year, with the organisers bringing back the aerial firework display on Diwali Day (October 24) for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.

Last years, a pre-recorded programme was aired in place of fireworks, on three large screens along Belgrave Road, while crowd control measures were in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.