Couple wrongly arrested over Gatwick drones awarded compensation

Paul and Elaine Gait, from Crawley - the Sussex town that is also home to Gatwick - have been awarded £200,000

Paul and Elaine Gait (front and second) were released without charge. Alamy

A couple who were arrested during investigations into drone flights that closed London's Gatwick Airport have agreed to compensation from police
Paul and Elaine Gait, from Crawley - the Sussex town that is also home to Gatwick - have been awarded £55,000 compensation and £145,000 in legal costs.

Armed police raided their house in December 2018 after Gatwick had been closed down by reports of unauthorised drone flights near its perimeter.
The drones closed Gatwick for three days in the weeks leading up to Christmas 2018, one of the busiest times of the year for airports and travel.
No one, let alone the Gaits who were held by police for 36 hours, has ever been charged with flying the drones that caused the closure.
On Sunday, their legal team announced an out-of-court settlement worth £200,000 for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment, and Sussex Police confirmed it had paid the Gaits.
"We are delighted to have finally received vindication, it has been a very long fight for justice," the couple said, in a statement released by their legal team on Sunday.
"It has taken lengthy legal proceedings to obtain resolution from the police and to finally have closure on this distressing time."

Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable David Miller has also written to the couple saying he was "deeply sorry" for the "traumatic" experience.
"Unfortunately, when the police carry out their functions on behalf of the public, sometimes innocent people are arrested as part of necessary police investigations in the public interest," he said.

"However, we recognise that things could have been done differently and, as a result, Sussex Police have agreed to pay you compensation and legal costs."

The force commissioned a "thorough independent review" of the drone incident last year.