Latvian police get the right to shoot down drones
The Latvian Saeima has adopted amendments to the law on police that allow law enforcement officers to forcibly land or shoot down drones in case of a security threat.
Here's What We Know
The amendments were adopted on 27 March without discussion - 76 MPs voted in favour and 6 voted against. The law came into force immediately after its adoption.
From now on, the police have the right to use special means to stop drones in the air, on water or on the ground if they threaten public safety, critical infrastructure or are used illegally.
Previously, only border guards and the military had such powers. The police could track the route and altitude of drones, as well as locate the operator, but were not allowed to seize or destroy them. The amendments to the law also allow police to use explosives in certain cases.
As a reminder, in September 2023, a Russian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone crashed in Latvia. The country's security forces tracked its flight and notified NATO command.
Source: LSM
