The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Liverpool) (Emergency) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 24th Jul 26

These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within a specified circular zone in Liverpool.

The restriction applies to all drone operators, except those flying under the specific direction of the Merseyside Police Counter-UAS Team.

This emergency measure took effect at 10:50 a.m. on 24 July 2026 to address an immediate public interest concern identified by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that a public interest reason necessitates flight restrictions due to an emergency that has arisen in the Liverpool area.
The document states that restrictions are required to manage unmanned aircraft activity during the emergency period.
Proponents would note that the regulations provide an explicit exception for aircraft operating under the direction of the Merseyside Police Counter-UAS Team, allowing for authorized emergency response.

Arguments Against

Legal observers might note that the document does not define the specific nature of the "emergency," leaving the underlying justification for the restriction unspecified to the public.
Civil liberties or drone hobbyist groups may express concern regarding the immediate commencement of the regulations, which provides no prior notice to operators in the affected area.
The geographical scope is defined by precise coordinates and nautical miles, which may pose implementation challenges for operators of unmanned aircraft without sophisticated GPS or geofencing capabilities.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Liverpool) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.

This section establishes the official title of the regulations.

It mandates that the legal restrictions take effect immediately upon the signing of the document at 10:50 a.m. on 24 July 2026.

Restricted airspace

No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea level over the area specified in Column 1 of the Schedule, being an area bounded by a circle of the radius specified in Column 2 and centred on the position specified in Column 3.
These Regulations do not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Merseyside Police Counter-UAS Team.

This section prohibits the flight of all unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, at altitudes lower than 1,200 feet within the designated emergency zone.

It grants an exemption to any unmanned aircraft that is operating under the instructions of the Merseyside Police Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team.

Effectively, this centralizes control of the specified airspace under police direction for the duration of the emergency.

SCHEDULE

Regulation 2

Table 1

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |----------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Liverpool | 0.54 nautical mile | 532515N 0025203W |

The Schedule defines the exact geographic boundaries of the restricted flight zone.

It specifies a circular area with a radius of 0.54 nautical miles centered at the coordinates 53°25'15"N 002°52'03"W in Liverpool.

Any unmanned flight within this cylinder of airspace, from the surface up to 1,200 feet, is legally restricted.

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