Dutch cops are mulling the idea of a drone-busting eagle squadron - one of a range of possible methods under consideration to wrest back control of the skies from UAV hordes.

Trained eagles are apparently a deadly serious proposal, and police video released over the weekend shows talons can be effective weapons against a moderately-sized quadcopter. Spokesman Marc Wiebes explained: "The bird sees the drone as prey and takes it to a safe place, a place where there are no other birds or people."

While it remains to be seen if the eagle squadron ever becomes operational, the Dutch powers that be are working on other drone-downing ideas. These include kit which can "remotely take over control of a drone", and anti-drone drones designed "to fire at or capture an enemy drone".

We have no doubt that in the face of these complex efforts to clear the skies, readers will point The Netherlands' finest in the direction of the preferred US method of drone control. ®