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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be concerned about drone catching images of my children in paddling pool

404 replies

Slightlygiganticpants · 04/07/2018 10:12

Last night whilst my dc were playing in the garden, (which is completely private and in a rural location, we have about 3 neighbours) a drone flew over several times. The dc were playing in the paddling pool at this time in various states of undress.

My dh got the children in and I went in search of the drone operator. Located him and started filming him with my phone. He was on the other side of the river from my house. He disliked my filming of him and we became engaged in a fairly heated debate with me calling him a pervert and possibly a peadophileBlush. Apparently what he was doing was completely legal (I believe drone was less than 50 meters from us but that is up for debate) and he wasn't filming the dc. He did also phone the police after I left and then came around and spoke to my dh.

I have looked into this since and have found out that this is legal! How? Surely this can't be right? Surely we have a right to privacy in our own garden!

OP posts:
Shumpalumpa · 04/07/2018 13:05

Given that you think he's a pervert paedophile, and the police obvs know who he is because they will have taken his details when they went out after he phoned them, why haven't you called them to report this pervert paedophile who was repeatedly filming your half naked children?

Maybe OP was reassured that he wasn't a paedophile when he called the police? You don't know that OP hasn't spoken to the police when the droner called them.

Stop being so accusatory.

NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking · 04/07/2018 13:08

My DP was using a drone last weekend.. he was practising flying itbovee a local park. He took my child do as to look more normal.. don’t think he felt comfortable on his own!

He’s not a boring wanker or a weirdo though, he was going wake boarding on Sunday and wanted to film himself and his mate going that, so was getting used to it on the Saturday.

Not everyone with a drone is a twat.

With regards to the OP though, I’d have confronted the bloke too, you’d think he’d steer clear of people’s gardens. Once as an accident you could forgive.. to repeatedly fly over? Disrespectful at best.

MNHQ
HopeMumsnet · 04/07/2018 13:09

Hi there,
We have deleted several instances of trollhunting and goadiness on this thread, despite the fact that so far as we can ascertain the OP is a legitimate poster who has been with us for a good while now. We know everyone's VERY HOT and cross (and apparently this weather is going to go on until August... ) but let's not forget MN's estimable guidelines.

heatwave2018 · 04/07/2018 13:13

I know someone who was sunbathing in their private backgarden and a drone started watching them and filming them. You can contact the police and notify them

PositivelyPERF · 04/07/2018 13:14

I fucking hate drones. There’s a prick that flys one in my local park and he does have a camera. You an tell he’s watching you as he ‘follows’ the dog owners. It scares the shit out of the all dogs and the silly wanker lets his own dog stray all around the park, while he’s doing it. I roared laughing when it landed and someone else’s dog grabbed it.

Shumpalumpa · 04/07/2018 13:15

Sorry I see that OP didn't speak to the police. I think that was remarkably restrained of you, slightlygiganticpants

PolkerrisBeach · 04/07/2018 13:15

OP doesn't even know if the drone had a camera, or if it was switched on.

Lots of people have fun flying model planes, helicopters and drones. They're not taking pictures, they're just flying them. Not my idea of a good afternoon out, but hey, whatever floats your boat.

Then an unhinged woman rushes out, starts filming and shrieking about PEE-DOS?

Dearie me. No wonder the guy called the Police. (Because he would absolutely have done that if he were a pee-do desperate to get pictures of the OP's kids) Hmm

MissClareRemembers · 04/07/2018 13:16

Hang on, I don’t understand something: does a drone operator see what their drone is filming AS it’s being filmed? So, the images appear immediately on a mobile device? Did he appear to have that equipment?

Shumpalumpa · 04/07/2018 13:19

But it's a bit strange to be hanging out behind someone's house? He was as close to the OP's house as he could get, with just the trees, fences, bridleway and river obstructing his way.

I bet he thought he was on to a winner.

The cheek of him to be intruding in someone's garden and then getting annoyed they intrude on him by filming him.

I would have told the tosser that it's not illegal to film in public. What's sauce for the goose etc

TeasndToast · 04/07/2018 13:20

Oh screw mumsnet OP. No you didn’t over react. If some bloke flew a drone over my children in their back garden I would have called him a lot worse and my husband and I would have chased him off and shoved the drone up his arse.

YANBU

Cyclingpast · 04/07/2018 13:24

Of course he was wrong. You should respect people's privacy and not fly over their gardens, that's only common sense.

Original poster
Slightlygiganticpants · 04/07/2018 13:33

I didn't speak to the police at all. They never came out to see us. The drone man informed my dh that he had been on the phone to the police. After speaking to the man my dh decided to leave it and retain our footage in case of anything further.

OP posts:
RayneDance · 04/07/2018 13:35

Op how can do it you know he did call the police.

jumblefun2 · 04/07/2018 13:37

This reply has been deleted

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bigKiteFlying · 04/07/2018 13:41

The drone man informed my dh that he had been on the phone to the police. After speaking to the man my dh decided to leave it and retain our footage in case of anything further.

I'd take that with a huge dose of salt. Though personally I'd get in touch with local police and see what they tell you about drones and the law and see if they know this man.

SirVixofVixHall · 04/07/2018 13:45

Agree with the op who said these things should be banned for private use. They are a serious danger to air traffic, they are used by criminals, and they are used to invade privacy or browse properties and gardens to thieve things from or to burgle.
I would happily shoot or hose one down if it was hovering above my garden or dcs.
No different to someone standing on your garden wall spying on you. Really about time they were banned.

SirVixofVixHall · 04/07/2018 13:46

I also agree that you should talk to the local police yourself.

Theycouldhavechoseneve · 04/07/2018 13:46

Yeah but marmalade I couldn’t be with a man who couldn’t/wouldn’t step up in that situation, notwithstanding I’m capable of stepping up myself.

PoisonousSmurf · 04/07/2018 13:49

Not a perv, but a CF who wanted to have a good look at your garden. Maybe it will teach him not to fly over private property.

glintandglide · 04/07/2018 14:05

Ive just received a payment from a crane company for “over craning” - trespassing into my airspace above my house, which they should really offer you some money and get your permission for, but don’t because people don’t realise they own the airspace above their property.

Wonder if there is a similar claim
To be had with drones?

ANyway OP I don’t blame you in the slightest. Disgusting perverted men spying on women and children is extremely common so I think your reaction was a natural one. These men get away with it because people are too intimidated to challenge them.

OverTheHedgeHammy · 04/07/2018 14:16

A solicitor's guide to the law on drones

Shumpalumpa · 04/07/2018 14:42

This reply has been deleted

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Bluelonerose · 04/07/2018 14:46

Yadnbu.
I would of reacted the same as you op

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/07/2018 14:48

Droning on about how could OP possibly know this or that, Shumpa.

—see what I did there—

Shumpalumpa · 04/07/2018 14:54

Haha thanks Chardonnay

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