The Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
UK Statutory Instrument 2025 No. 1284 — creates 5 criminal offences.
- Made
- 10 December 2025
- In force from
- Not determined
- Extent
- Not stated
- Subject
- Transport: maritime, aviation, rail and harbours
- Made under
- Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021, In accordance with section 93(4C) of the Police Act 1997, Police Act 1997, Schedule 11 to, the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
These Regulations create criminal offences where operators and remote pilots of unmanned aircraft breach requirements in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft (EUR 2019/947) (“the Implementing Regulation”). The offences largely replicate the offences in articles 265A, 265B and 265C of the Air Navigation Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/765), which are omitted by paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 2 to these Regulations. Regulation 2 sets out offences for contravention of the Implementing Regulation by a UAS operator. Regulation 3 sets out offences for contravention of the Implementing Regulation by a remote pilot. Regulation 4 creates an offence relating to registration of certified model aircraft. Regulation 5 sets out penalties for the offences in these Regulations. Regulation 6 provides for the liability of directors and other officers of a body corporate which has committed an offence. Regulation 7 sets out a defence to the offences in these Regulations. Regulation 8 provides that Part 2 has effect subject to Schedule 10 to the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 (c. 12). Part 3 and the Schedules make consequential amendments to the Police Act 1997 (c. 50), the Air Navigation Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/765) and the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
Offences created by this instrument
- Contravention of the UK Implementing Regulation - UAS operator regulation 2(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Contravention of the UK Implementing Regulation - UAS operator regulation 2(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Contravention of the UK Implementing Regulation - remote pilot regulation 3(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Contravention of the UK Implementing Regulation - remote pilot regulation 3(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Registration of certified unmanned aircraft regulation 4(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
What Parliament said about it
Contributions, debates and written statements mentioning this instrument by name. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
- Draft Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
Commons · General Committees · 18 November 2025 · The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)
I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Butler. The regulations, which were laid in draft before the House on 21 October 2025, set out criminal offences for breaching regulatory requirements relating to the operation of unmanned or uncrewed aircraft systems, including drones and model aircraft. The regulations will ensure that the regulatory requirements remain enforceable and that operators and pilots of UASs remain subject to appropriate…
- Draft Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 Commons · General Committees · 18 November 2025
- Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
Lords · Grand Committee · 4 December 2025 · Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill
That the Grand Committee do consider the Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025. Relevant document: 40th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
- Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 Lords · Grand Committee · 4 December 2025
- Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 Lords · Lords Chamber · 8 December 2025
How Parliament handled it
Parliament's Statutory Instruments service has no record of this instrument, although it covers the period. Nothing is inferred from that.
Check the source
- This instrument on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text, including amendments made since
- Other instruments from 2025