Labour peers urge greater scrutiny of plans for police camera drones

Amendment to police bill would require home secretary to approve use of new surveillance equipment

Two Labour peers have demanded greater parliamentary scrutiny of police plans to use surveillance cameras mounted on drones after it emerged that the technology could be deployed by forces across England and Wales.

Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of the civil rights advocacy group Liberty, has tabled an amendment to the police bill that would require the home secretary to approve the use of new weapons, surveillance equipment or investigatory technology". The amendment was due to be discussed on Wednesday night.