Government announces new measures to tackle the sale of
unsafe laser pointers.
The government has announced new measures to tackle the sale of
unsafe laser pointers, including strengthening safeguards to stop
high-powered lasers entering the country.
In a response to a call for
evidence launched last year following a recent increase
in the number of incidents involving lasers, the government today
(8 January 2018) pledged additional support to local authority
ports and borders teams to stop high-powered laser pointers
entering the UK.
This includes supporting local authority teams to carry out
increased checks at the border, including testing products to
ensure they are safe. The support will also ensure local
authority teams have access to the necessary scientific,
technical and testing expertise.
The government will work with manufacturers and retailers to
improve laser pointer labelling, indicating that they must not be
pointed at eyes or at vehicles and must state the power level of
the product. The policing of online laser pointer sales will also
be improved by working with online retailers including eBay.
More than 150 incidents of eye injuries involving laser pointers
were reported since 2013, the vast majority of these involving
children. As in many of these cases neither children nor their
parents have known the danger involved, the government will also
work to raise awareness of the risks associated with laser
pointers.
In 2016, the Civil Aviation Authority received reports of 1,258
laser incidents, with Heathrow the most frequent location for
reports of the devices being used recklessly.
Laser beam attacks against the rail network are also a concern.
Records from the British Transport Police show that between 1
April 2011 and 30 November 2017, a total of 578 laser incidents
were recorded. This equates to approximately 96 incidents per
year.
, Consumer Minister, said:
The government has listened to concerns from pilots, health
professionals and safety experts, which is why we are going
further than ever before to crack down on the sale of unsafe
devices.
Public safety is of the utmost importance and we are working to
increase the public’s knowledge of the potential dangers
associated with these devices and strengthening the penalties
for when they are misused.
Professor John O’Hagan, of PHE’s Laser and Optical Radiation
Dosimetry Group, said:
Over time we have become increasingly concerned about the
dangers of growing numbers of unlabelled and incorrectly
labelled high power laser pointers being bought by the public.
It is tragic that we continue to see eye injuries, especially
in children. Laser safety experts at Public Health England have
worked closely with local authorities in stopping large numbers
of these lasers reaching UK consumers.
The extra protections proposed should help even further - if
you have a laser and you don’t need it, remove the batteries
and get rid of it.
Brian Strutton, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots
Association (BALPA), said:
This is more welcome news from the government on lasers and
shows that it is taking this important issue seriously.
The Department for Transport recently announced the
introduction of new tougher laws for those who shine
lasers at aircraft. Now the tougher restrictions on importation
should hopefully stop high-powered lasers reaching the hands of
those with ill-intentions in the first place.
Shining a laser at an aircraft is extremely dangerous and has
the potential to cause a crash that could be fatal to not only
those on board, but people on the ground too.
Today’s measures build on tough new penalties in the Laser Misuse (Vehicles)
Bill, which was introduced by the Department for Transport
last year. The Bill expands the list of vehicles it is an offence
to target with lasers. It also makes it easier to prosecute
offenders by removing the need to prove an intention to endanger
a vehicle. People who shine laser devices at transport operators
could be jailed for up to 5 years.
Notes to editors
-
MP introduced a private
members bill to Parliament to control dangerous laser pens
and this was followed by the government’s call for evidence
to address the inappropriate use of these devices.
-
The Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Bill introduced by the Department
for Transport, which has its second reading on Tuesday 9
January, will expand the list of vehicles, beyond just
planes, which it is an offence to target with lasers.
-
The increased investment for local authority ports and border
teams will support increased checks at the border, including
the testing of products to ensure they are safe, and great
enforcement action. BEIS will
also ensure local authority teams have access to the
necessary scientific, technical and testing expertise.
