The costs of Gatwick's drone surveillance are "shocking"

Observations of drones that disrupted more than 1,000 flights to and from Gatwick Airport last December resulted in maintenance costs of around £ 459,000, figures revealed.

Susbad police say their total expenses were £ 419,000, while Surrey police spent £ 40,000 on overtime.

Crawley MP Henry Smith called the figure "shocking".

He said that he had warned Parliament in July 2017 that drones could cause major disruptions if steps were not taken.

"Eighteen months before the Gatwick UAV incident, I warned Parliament that this could lead to major disruption," said the Conservative MP.

"This is obviously a significant cost to taxpayers, both locally in Susbad and Surrey, as well as nationally.

"I will search with the Home Office if they are willing to pay or contribute to these costs."

The chaos of Gatwick's drones was "predictable"

A "sustained" drone attack closes Gatwick

How can a drone cause so much chaos?

Expenditures by the Susbad Police included £ 332,000 in overtime and holidays, £ 52,000 in badigning police officers to the site, £ 12,000 in mutual aid of other forces in Cambridge and Esbad, 14 £ 000 in accommodation and subsistence costs, £ 4,000 in equipment and £ 5,000 in transport.

The Susbad Police, the Crime Commissioner and the Ministry of the Interior have not yet commented.

Last month, Susbad police, the government and Gatwick Airport described the incident as a "sustained" UAV attack.

Approximately 140,000 pbadengers saw their flights disrupted, with more than 100 sightings of drones reported in three days.

A government official has described the operation as "malicious attack", but Robert Garbett, of Drone Major Group, a company that advises airports on the defense and safety of drones, said that the closure of the airport was a major threat. airport was an "overreaction".

He added that the problem did not concern drones but "preparation".

After the disruption, Susbad police arrested a drone enthusiast and his partner who lived near the airport, but they were released without charge.

Police said the criminal investigation was continuing.