Torbay boy charged after shining lazer light at helicopter (From Mid Devon Star)
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Torbay boy charged after shining lazer light at helicopter
10:00am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News
Police have arrested a boy after a laser was shone at the police helicopter on Sunday, September 9. The helicopter was attending a burglary in Kingskerswell when three separate laser beams were directed at the helicopter just before midnight.
A police spokesman said that the beams were coming from different directions causing "distractions to the crew".
The strongest source of the laser was identified to be coming from Shiphay in Torquay. The address was located and a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of shining a light at an aircraft in flight.
The laser pen was recovered and the boy has been bailed until later this month.
This incident follows the recent warning from police that anyone shining lasers at aircraft will be prosecuted under new laws.
In 2007 there were 29 reported attacks in the UK, three years later in 2010 this had risen to over 1,400.
Air operations crew estimate they have been affected 20 times in the last six months. The majority of these are over urban areas particularly Plymouth and Torquay.
