Increase in drone complaints to police in Shropshire and Mid Wales

Last year, West Mercia Police recorded 175 drone incidents. This was almost five times more the 2015 figure of 36 and more than 21 times the 2014 tally of eight.

Dyfed Powys Police has also experienced a steep rise in reports, with one in 2014, three in 2015 and 35 last year.

Records of incidents provided by some constabularies reveal the devices are at the centre of a wide range of reports, including:

Disputes between neighbours: Police were alerted to arguments and threats of violence between residents, including one in which a man reported that he suspected his neighbour was flying a drone "just to annoy him".

Nuisance drones: In one case a man threatened to shoot down an "annoying" drone with an air rifle.

Prison smuggling: Drones have been used to drop drugs and other contraband into prison grounds.

Fears of spying: In a number of cases, members of the public contacted their local force to raise concerns that drones were being used for snooping. In one instance, a device was said to have been flown over a garden repeatedly while girls were sunbathing.

Near misses: Forces registered several instances of drones being spotted near aircraft. In one incident, two separate flight pilots reported coming close to colliding with a large drone.

In February, an investigation was launched after a helicopter from RAF Shawbury came within 100 feet of a six-foot drone that was being flown 600 feet above the ground near the base.

The incident is now the subject of an investigation involving the Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates all non-military flying in the UK.

There have been at least six reports of drones causing a potential risk to aircraft associated with the airbase over the last 12 months, including in places such as Telford and Nesscliffe.

Drones have been banned at Severn Valley Country Park at Alveley, near Bridgnorth, over fears about public safety and have also been used to fly in contraband into Stoke Heath prison, near Market Drayton, such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones.

Figures show the number of incidents logged by police around the country rocketed between 2014 and 2016.

Last year, forces across the UK recorded 3,456 incidents, equivalent to nearly 10 every day.

This was almost triple the 2015 figure of 1,237. The true total is likely to be higher as full data was not available for all forces in the UK. The findings, based on Freedom of Information requests, coincide with a jump in the popularity of the remote-controlled devices.

Available for as little as £30 and often boasting built-in cameras, sales of the gadgets have risen sharply in recent years.

Police forces in the UK were asked for data on incidents they recorded involving drones in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

There were consecutive year-on-year rises in most areas and in some cases the tallies soared from only a handful to three-figure totals.

Sussex Police recorded the highest number of drone-related incidents last year, with 240, followed by Greater Manchester at 225.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for drones, said: "As awareness of what drones are and what they can do continues to grow, police forces have seen increases in concerns and reports by the public."

"We have to balance the growth of this technology by ensuring that the public are aware of the strong regulatory framework and detailed user guidance that is available relating to drone use."

Ministers are considering a number of additional safety measures, including mandatory registration of new drones.

UK figures on reports of incidents involving drones recorded by police forces in 2014, 2015 and 2016:

Metropolitan Police – 1; 43; 87

Avon and Somerset – 0; 3; 6

Bedfordshire – 7; 16; 54

Cambridgeshire – 11; 54; 111

Cheshire – 12; 53; 36

City of London – 0; 0; 2

Cleveland – 2; 21; 87

Cumbria – 4; 11; 35

Derbyshire – 6; 28; 108

Devon and Cornwall – 6; 41; 110

Dorset – 27; 57; 155

Durham – 4; 10; 25

Dyfed Powys – 1; 3; 35

Greater Manchester – 14; 100; 225

Gwent – 0; 4; 1

Hertfordshire – 12; 47; 136

Humberside – 5; 21; 53

Kent – 3; 38; 153

Lancashire – 7; 49; 159

Leicestershire – 4; 37; 35

Lincolnshire – 5; 11; 46

Merseyside – 18; 41; 108

Norfolk – 7; 42; 168

North Yorkshire – 0; 4; 19

Northamptonshire – 2; 18; 64

Northumbria – 4; 26; 88

Nottinghamshire – 7; 37; 108

North Wales – 0; 0; 0

South Yorkshire – 11; 14; 62

Staffordshire – 17; 41; 150

Suffolk – 17; 38; 74

Sussex – 21; 86; 240

Warwickshire – 5; 23; 69

West Mercia – 8; 36; 175

West Midlands – 3; 30; 121

West Yorkshire – 5; 50; 115

Northern Ireland – 21; 75; 197

British Transport Police – 6; 29; 39