A police drone operator in the UK is facing disciplinary proceedings after a DJI Matrice 30T struck an overhead cable and then seriously injured a child on the ground.
The incident happened in August 2025 in Kent while a special police inspector was responding to a disturbance. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the officer launched the drone in haste and failed to carry out a proper risk assessment beforehand.
Seconds after takeoff at about 4 p.m. local time, the drone hit an overhead cable near the corner of Strode Crescent and Winstanley Road before hitting the child.
The child suffered a significant injury to the right thumb and hand and required two surgeries. They were initially treated by emergency responders before being taken to two different specialized hospitals. The IOPC said the child has since recovered.
The case is notable because the IOPC said it was the first time the watchdog had investigated an incident involving a police drone hitting a civilian.
Kent Police confirmed that the special inspector will face a misconduct meeting over an alleged breach of professional standards related to preparation and risk assessment before launching the drone.
It’s worth noting the DJI Matrice 30T is not comparable to the small camera drones commonly flown by hobbyists. It is a professional enterprise aircraft designed for jobs including law enforcement, firefighting and search and rescue.
With two batteries installed, the M30T weighs about 3.8 kilograms (8.3 pounds), and its maximum takeoff weight is roughly 4.1 kilograms (9 pounds). DJI rates it for up to 41 minutes of flight time and winds of up to about 27 mph. It also has an IP55 protection rating, meaning it is built to operate in demanding weather conditions.
Its camera package is a major reason agencies use it. The M30T combines a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 48-megapixel zoom camera with up to 16x optical zoom, a thermal camera and a laser rangefinder capable of measuring distances out to 1,200 meters. The thermal camera can help operators locate people or heat sources in darkness or difficult conditions.
The drone also has obstacle-sensing systems covering multiple directions, along with an infrared sensing system. DJI markets those features as tools for safer operation, but the IOPC investigation concluded that technology did not replace the need for proper preparation and risk assessment in this case.
Kent Police said it made a mandatory referral to the IOPC after the incident. The force said the misconduct process will now be arranged.
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