Prison warning as police helicopter targeted by ‘laser strike’

A POLICE helicopter was targeted in a ‘laser strike’ in Exeter, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) has revealed.

Officers say they were “seconds away from pinpointing” the culprit’s “exact location” in the Bonhay Road area on Monday night – and that they could have faced five years in prison if they were caught.

The helicopter had been deployed to help locate a vulnerable young man when the aircraft was targeted with a green laser, which can potentially dazzle and distract the aircrew and endanger lives.

On twitter, a spokesperson for NPAS said: “**LASER STRIKE** To whoever shone a green laser at us from the Bonhay Road area of Exeter just now, you’re very lucky.

“We were seconds away from pinpointing your exact location when you stopped. DO NOT DO IT AGAIN

You can receive a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.

“Crew are absolutely thank you to those asking

“This was a serious distraction for an emergency aircraft deployed to help locate a young man who was considering taking his own life. Please stop and think... we don’t fly for no reason, especially at night.”

Elsewhere police officers fined a parent for giving their daughter a fine but driving lesson in Camborne during the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown. The force has issued detailed guidance on its website about how it is interpreting and applying the lockdown laws – but this did not cover driving lessons.

The website says: “There are no specific guidelines or legislation that prohibit going for a drive. However, we ask that you only leave your home for essential travel.”