FEARS for the safety and privacy of children has prompted Leichhardt Council to ban drones in public parks and playgrounds and call for stronger regulation.

The council has voted to prohibit the launching of drones in parks within its local government area, the first one in Australia to do so, but admitted policing it would be difficult.

While there have been calls for a ban on taking photographs at sporting games, playgrounds and public pools for fear of misuse by paedophiles, drones roaming the airspace present a new dilemma.

media_camera Leichhcardt Council has banned drones in all parks and public spaces.

Mayor Darcy Byrne said the proliferation of drones for personal use and photography warranted greater regulation to ensure public safety and privacy.

“There is a concern about people taking unauthorised photos of children in public areas as well as the risk of ­injury if a drone crashes,” he said.

“The State and Federal Governments needed to look carefully at the use of drones and regulate to give councils greater controls over where drones are used and penalties for noncompliance.”

The move comes after a toddler in the UK lost his eye after an out-of-control drone’s propellor sliced through his eyeball.

The council was advised signs could be erected in parks to ban the launching of drones within the perimeter which could be ­policed by council officers. But officers acknowledged there was little that could be done if the drone was launched outside the park.

Greens councillor ­Rochelle Porteous said the council needed to understand who had control of the airspace above parks and playgrounds.

“What’s the penalty? How do we find the person operating the drone?,” she said.

media_camera Breaches of privacy and safety by operators of drones is hard to police. Picture: Craig Wilson

A council officer said the drone issue was one of child safety and other people’s safety, especially if they were flown over children’s play areas.

The council voted to ban the use of private drones and unmanned aerial devices in all parks and open areas under its care, control and management.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) spokesman Peter Gibson said a ­review of regulations around drones would take place next year.

Mr Gibson said rules were already in place including a 30m rule and one not to fly over crowds or groups, but admitted it was difficult to find the culprit if there was a breach.

“Councils have jurisdiction over public land but not the airspace and CASA can regulate safety but not privacy.”

“If people are concerned about breaches of privacy they can report it to the police but you still have the problem of identifying who was operating the drone.”

“There are fines of up to $9000 for breaches of safety.

“America has moved to register drones but it is not yet clear how the system would work.”

Commercial users – there are about 320 in Australia — need a licence but recreational users do not.