Circling and idling helicopters continue to cause frustration for many. Complaints about helicopters being used to police protests fill my mailbag every time a demonstration takes place. Nickie has met with the Home Secretary, the Policing Minister and Senior Met Officers repeatedly over the past 12 months to urge the use of drones rather than environmentally unfriendly and intrusive helicopters.
Nickie was invited to the Met’s public order training centre to see how advances in technology will resolve the issue and discussed the issue with the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner during the visit. She will continue to lobby the Home Office to fund the necessary equipment.
Nickie also hopes to persuade the Aviation Authority in London to do more to reduce helicopter traffic in central London, without affecting the right to lawful protest.