Wrekin MP welcomes laser pen laws

Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for the Wrekin, has campaigned for stronger sentences for those who target pilots and drivers with lasers.

The new law, which means people can be jailed for up to five years for the offence, came into force this week.

Mr Pritchard said: "I am glad the government has now taken action. This improves safety as well as penalising more severely those who now break the law."

The Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act means that people breaking the law can also face an unlimited fine as well as jail time.

The act also expands the law to protect air traffic controllers carrying out flight navigation work.

Baroness Sugg, Aviation Minister, said: "Lasers, used recklessly, can have very serious, potentially fatal consequences. This government has toughened up the law to crack down on this dangerous behaviour.

"These new laws offer greater protection for operators and passengers alike against irresponsible and reckless laser use."

The legislation was introduced in December and latest figures show the number of laser aviation incidents fell in March to the lowest levels since 2009.

Head of Flight Safety at the British Airline Pilots Association, Dr Rob Hunter said: "The public needs to recognise that lasers are not toys and shining one at an aircraft endangers all those on board and anyone on the ground.

"The police now have greater powers, and anyone caught could face five years in jail.

"This legislation removes the need for police officers to establish proof of intention to endanger so people will find it much harder to hide behind the claim they ‘did it by accident’.

"If you have bought a laser for your kids or have one that you don’t really need, we suggest you take the batteries out and throw it away.

"It’s not worth you, or someone close to you, getting a criminal record for the sake of what is mistakenly believed to be a toy."

Earlier this year Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Price, an RAF pilot of 36 years based at RAF Cosford,near Albrighton, spoke about being targeted while flying around the base about two years ago.

He said: "I was just flying around the local area around Cosford when I became aware of this light being shone at me.

"While I wasn't blinded, it was distracting, I was thinking about it when I was trying to do other things."

He said pilots are trained to take certain steps to minimise the risks, which might include adjusting the pilot's seating position so that something is obstructing the view of the laser.

He said: "In the plane that I fly, I can adjust the angle I am flying at slightly, so that I can't see the beam, but a pilot trying to land an airliner at Birmingham airport cannot do that."