Can someone legally film my child in a public park in the UK?

General photography and filming in public is broadly lawful in the UK, but it can become unlawful if it amounts to harassment, voyeurism, or if data is then processed in ways that breach UK GDPR. Targeted filming of a specific child can also be reported to the police on 101.

What does the CAA Drone Code say about filming children?

The CAA Drone Code requires registered flyer IDs for many drones, sets distance and altitude rules, and tells operators to respect privacy. Flying low over a school, garden, or playground can breach the Code even where no individual law is broken; the CAA accepts reports of unsafe operation.

How do I report this in the UK?

If a child is in immediate danger or being filmed in a way that suggests a sexual offence, call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101. The ICO (0303 123 1113) handles data-protection concerns; the CAA handles unsafe drone operation. The NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) and Childline (0800 1111) are free and confidential. For a UK reporting decision tree, see /reporting and /tools/reporting-route-finder.

Important

Drone & Camera Privacy of Children

Drones, GoPros, action cameras, and body-worn cameras around children — the CAA Drone Code, lawful filming in public, school and park boundaries, and how to respond when your child is filmed without consent.

Overview

Consumer drones, GoPros, action cameras, body-worn cameras, and now AI smart glasses all make it easy to film children incidentally or deliberately — at a school sports day, in a public park, at a swimming pool, on the school run, or at a community event. Most filming is harmless, but a meaningful share is unwanted, and a small share is targeted. The UK rules are spread across the CAA Drone and Model Aircraft Code, UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Voyeurism Act 2019, and section 67A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (upskirting). Knowing what is allowed, what is not, and what to do at the moment a camera appears makes parents calmer and children safer.

How it works

In public, photography and filming are generally lawful in the UK, but UK GDPR can still apply once images are used systematically, shared, or combined with other data. The CAA Drone Code sets specific distance and flight rules — drones over 250 grams must follow registered-flyer rules, must not fly over uninvolved people at low altitude, and must respect the same privacy expectations as any other camera. Schools, swimming pools, and many parks set their own no-photography or no-drone policies and can ask people to leave. Targeted filming of children's bodies, upskirting, or covert filming in changing rooms crosses into criminal territory under the Voyeurism Act 2019 and Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Warning signs in your child

Distress at being filmed at a school sports day, swimming pool, or park event
Reports of an adult repeatedly pointing a phone, GoPro, or drone at children
Anxiety about a specific person showing up at outdoor events with a camera
Mentioning that a drone has hovered over the garden or playground

Warning signs on the device

Photos or videos of your child taken by a stranger appearing on social media
Geotagged drone footage of your home or school posted publicly
Body-worn or smart-glasses footage shared in a way the child did not consent to

Prevention steps

1. Know the venue's policy before the event

School sports days, swimming pools, soft-play centres, and community sports clubs almost always have a written photography and drone policy. Ask once at the start of the season so you know what is allowed and who to speak to.

2. Use venue staff first, not confrontation

If someone is filming in a way that worries you, ask the venue's staff or event marshal to intervene. They have authority on private land that you do not, and it de-escalates the situation.

3. Know the CAA Drone Code in outline

Drones over 250 g require a flyer ID, must stay below 120 m, must not be flown over uninvolved crowds at low altitude, and must respect privacy. If a drone is hovering over a private garden or playground, that is not automatically illegal but it is reportable.

4. Talk to your child about being filmed

Explain that they can say 'please don't film me', step away, and tell an adult. That sentence, said calmly, defuses most situations and gives the child agency.

What to do if it happens

1.If a stranger is filming children at a public event in a way that worries you, ask venue staff to intervene first; call the police on 101 if they will not stop or if the filming appears targeted.
2.If images of your child have been posted online without consent, ask the platform to take them down and report to the ICO on 0303 123 1113 if the data protection issue is unresolved.
3.For drone-specific concerns, the CAA accepts reports of unsafe or non-compliant drone use; the police on 101 handle privacy and harassment aspects.
4.If you suspect upskirting or covert filming in changing rooms, this can be a criminal offence under the Voyeurism Act 2019 and section 67A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 — call 999 if it is happening now, otherwise 101 and preserve any evidence.

External resources

CAA — Drone and Model Aircraft Code— Civil Aviation Authority
ICO — your data protection rights— Information Commissioner's Office
NSPCC — photographing children policy guidance— NSPCC Learning

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

Safety Topic

Photography & Filming Policies

Safety Topic

Upskirting

Audience

Guide for Parents

Last reviewed: 2026-06-14