Mandatory drone registration proposed in Britain

Drone owners in Britain may have to register their flying machines under proposals announced Wednesday by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Except for the mandatory registration of new drones, the proposed measures also include tougher penalties for illegal flying near no-fly zones and sensitive sites such as airports and prisons.

A provision for making drones electronically identifiable so that owners details can be traced in case of violating law is also proposed.

The proposals followed a number of scares this year which saw drones coming within meters of passenger jets, including one flying over central London at the time.

The proposals are part of DfT consultation on improving drone safety.

The consultation will also consider whether there is a need for a new criminal offence for misuse of drones.

Drone industry is growing fast in Britain, as it's estimated by officials could be the country's next billion-dollar industry by 2025.

Many officials have been aware of the value of the industry, including Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad, who said "Drones have enormous economic potential and are already being used by emergency services, transport and energy providers and conservation groups to improve services, respond to incidents and save lives."

But he also noted the security and privacy concerns when drones are misused.

"The government is taking a common sense approach to tackling this behavior, ensuring the safe roll-out of this technology," said the minister. Endit