A West London council is preparing to use drones to bolster its enforcement teams as local authorities across the country quietly build aerial surveillance fleets. A report by Hammersmith and Fulham council sets out plans to deploy drones to support its 70-strong law enforcement team, which issued more than 2,200 fines in 2024. The aircraft will be used to target anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.
When a toxic metal foundry finally shut down in East Oakland after years of community organizing, residents celebrated a hard-won victory. But as our environmental reporter discovered, a new polluter was allowed to move in with the city's blessing. This story reveals how environmental enforcement works - or doesn't work - in Oakland, and the powerful force of engaged residents fighting for their neighborhoods.