Police forces across the UK are set to be given new powers to combat the illegal use of drones and prevent future travel disruption.

The increased use of drone devices has raised concerns over airport security following widespread chaos at Gatwick Airport in 2018.

More than 1,000 flights were grounded following a series of drone sightings at the airport just before Christmas. Up to 140,000 passengers were affected by the disruption, and Sussex Police spent nearly £800,000 during its investigation.

In response to the incident, no-fly zones around UK airports were extended from 1km to 5km in March this year.

• Scientists unveil robotic inspectors for offshore windfarms
• UK public declare drones a national security risk
• Edinburgh Airport to trial drone-tracking technology

The new powers will see the establishment of a mobile counter-drone unit, which the Home Office said will “deter, detect and disrupt the misuse of drones”.

The specialist unit will be on-call to track down and combat the illegal use of drone devices across the UK. This will not be restricted to airport disruption, though. The unit could also help cut down on the distribution of banned items or materials in prisons.

Criminals have increasingly turned to drones as a way to bring drugs and weapons into prisons throughout the UK.

These new measures will be set out in the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill, which was announced last week in the Queen’s Speech. Additional pledges have been set out in a government-led counter-drone strategy.

A document detailing the new proposals said: “Our aim will be to stop malicious and illegal drone use as early as possible, ideally before a drone is used in a crime.

“The government will consider what further product standards or restrictions within the drone sector could reduce risks associated with the misuse of drones without disproportionately affecting legitimate users, setting new international standards.”

The government also hopes to improve public awareness of drone misuse and cultivate a stricter culture in which drone users operate.

The document added: “We will encourage the public to report instances of drone misuse and equate wider vigilance campaigns with suspicious drone use, as much as other terrorist or criminal activity.

“By better-publicising prosecutions for drone offences, we will make it harder for people to claim ignorance when prosecuted.”

New international design standards will also require manufacturers to fit drones with safety features, the Government confirmed.