Kent Police drone accident injures child due to operator error
A child sustained severe hand injuries when a police drone crashed after striking an overhead cable that went unnoticed by the operator, according to an investigation.
The injured child was promptly taken to a London hospital for medical treatment following the incident, which occurred during a police response to an assault report on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent last August. The DJI M30T drone was deployed by Kent Police to aid in the search for a suspect.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) reported that the drone, launched by a Kent Police officer, collided with a cable that the operator failed to observe, leading to the child’s serious injury. Subsequently, a Kent Police special inspector received a misconduct notice in connection with the incident.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated an investigation into the incident, marking the first time the organization has delved into a case involving a civilian in the UK being harmed by a police drone.
During the August 2 incident, the nearly 4kg DJI M30T drone, equipped with a thermal camera, was employed by Kent Police in the search for a suspect. The AAIB described the event as an emergency response where the drone hit a telegraph cable, resulting in an injury to a member of the public who required hospital treatment. The operator noted the oversight of the cable hazard during the drone’s rapid deployment.
A spokesperson for Kent Police disclosed that the injured child, whose age remains undisclosed, received treatment at a London hospital for the hand injuries sustained. The police force’s deployment of the drone occurred after responding to an assault in progress on the Isle of Sheppey. Following the incident, Kent Police made a mandatory referral to the IOPC, which is conducting an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The AAIB decided to conduct a record-only investigation, citing minimal prospects of obtaining new safety insights from a full probe. The agency emphasized its commitment to learning safety lessons from incidents to prevent future occurrences.
The IOPC confirmed its independent investigation into the drone accident involving the child and Kent Police, which occurred during a response to a disturbance report on August 2. The drone collided with an overhead cable, resulting in the child’s hand injury. A special inspector has been served a misconduct notice as part of the ongoing inquiry.