Drones at Gatwick

As someone mentioned further back, I also worry now that every numpty will create some mischief with a drone like the idiots with their laser pens.

I did look for a thread about this having just heard that two people have been taken in for questioning. I then started one but felt it best to join in here. What an unbelievable waste of Police time given the threats we face from violence and terrorism.
It might be a good idea if everyone who has had their holiday affected or ruined were to take out a private prosecution to claim compensation from the perpetrators.

If there was a 'like' button on here sparklefizz, I would be using at your post.

(Chris Grayling)

Rosina Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Who knew 36 hours ago that it wasn't terrorism? We still don't know the motive behind all this.

Thank you Gonegirl

Sparklefizz there was not a thought of criticism for the way the Police have gone about this - like others no doubt I was really concerned that this might be a building terrorist atrocity when so many lives could be involved if a plane were brought down. The Police have found the idiots in a very short time; it's the overstretching of resources that concerns me. We have two members of the force in our family and you would never hear a word of criticism from me - we know at first hand what they have to tackle on a daily basis and often without much in the way of back up.

The problem is, Rosina that the perpetrators of this event probably do not have anything to claim against, so suing them would be a waste of time. Otherwise I entirely agree with you.

The two arrested have not been charged, so we do not know it was them, nor do we yet know the motive.

I agree with you Rosina about overstretching of resources at a very problematic time. I was married to a police officer who served on the Bomb Squad so I have every admiration for what the police have to do and the long hours they have to work, sadly with few thanks from the public, just complaints.

Graylings prison regime didn't work either when he was in charge of prisons ! He's another useless individual.

The arrested couple hardly fit the expected profile!

So much talk of eco-warriors, Russians, nerds in a bedroom, and latterly near-genius mastermind who's likely to have a PhD.

Riverwalk I think they may have the wrong people.
His interest in drones and aircraft which he plastered on Facebook has been picked up, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are released uncharged (unless he has secret connections to local protests about increasing the Gatwick runways)

i would think the police would go on more than the fact that someone is a drone obsessive. In fact you would think that someone that obviously a drone enthusiast would be the last person to do something like this, but there are some really stupid people about and an obsessive could easily get everything out of proportion.

Also, and I have experienced this, bringing a town or an airport to a grinding halt gives real =feeling of power. Some years ago I reported a gas leak, that turned out to be in the busy road that ran past our house where it was quite narrow. There also happened to be roadworks and traffic lights on the only alternative route.

I had the a day off work and stood in our bedroom window, watching the complete gridlock that virtually shutdown half of a large town. saying to myself ' I caused all that with one phone call. I confess, it gave me quite a feeling of power.

Well, they are still being held after being arrested on Friday, so the Police must have some reason for it.

The police have said very little, the newspaper reports of a cyclist in "his 30s" packing away a drone in a lane 4 miles away, that may or may not be the drone pilot. Maybe the police identified the couple by other means, they are claiming credit by the technology for identifying them, but they would try to justify that wouldn't they.

The culprit probably was the man on the bike, because any innocent drone flyers would not be anywhere near Gatwick that day. Or would they!.

I would have expected the police to have said they have found the drone, they haven't ??. The couple must have a positive connection or the police would have released them by now, maybe a phone number, or suspicious social media.

The couple have been released, the Sussex Police have stated that they are no longer under investigation.

Have the arrested couple been charged?
Their faces, personal details and house are plastered all over the papers, but as far as I am aware they are still being questioned, which does not mean that they are guilty.
Too many people 'under suspicion' named and shamed too soon by the media.
The BBC is being more circumspect on its news page; perhaps they have learned from previous mistakes!

They've been released without charge, eazybee

Unfortunately trial by media is becoming the norm.

The media are like circling sharks, and I feel often release a story before it has been fully authenticated, just to get ahead of their rivals.

Are the police back to square one? I hope they have other lines of inquiry to follow.

Apparently the Police did not release the names and have made a point of saying this, but now I see that not only is the couple's house with the name of their road prominent, but photos of his work van with phone number on the side are now showing online. Whoever did release the names (and it could have been a neighbour who saw them taken in for questioning) is a disgrace.

Now Gatwick Airport is offering a £50,000 reward, so presumably there are no other leads.

It's certainly not the first time that there have been wrongful arrests and won't be the last either. I hope the couple sue !

How absolutely terrible if this couple are totally innocent The media has so much to answer for both politically and in every day life Dreadful

EllanVannin Who could they sue though? Facebook? Neighbours? The Daily Mail? Who was the person who initially told? The Police have made it clear that it didn't come from them, and have gone out of their way to praise the couple for being helpful and cooperative, which of course anyone innocent would be.

It seems that the lesson of poor old Cliff Richard hasn't been forgotten despite him winning huge damages from the BBC. The BBC have learnt, but no other media organisations have.

"has been forgotten", not "hasn't"

I was horrified by the newspaper headlines and I'm very glad the police did not release the names, though a journalism lecturer said on BBC Scotland this morning he was astonished the stories had been "legalled", and that was before it was announced the couple had been released.

I suspect there will be huge consequences of these front page accusations and feel very sorry for the couple concerned.

In Scotland, it is illegal to publish photos, comment and details of people at that early stage - unless under exceptional circumstances as ordered by a judge - and, once a charge has been made, very little can be published to prevent prejudicing any future trial (leading to false convictions and/or the guilty going free).

During the paper review, it emerged that none of the Scottish papers or those with distinctive Scottish editions had gone over the top with this story and I'm very glad about that.

These people will definitely have a claim and I hope that's all it amounts to for them.

The first thing that should happen is that the authorities should humbly ask the man to use his expertise to help them fight the problem.

And I hope there are national editors hanging their heads in shame.