Laser pen is shone at force chopper

Lancashire Constabulary’s chopper was hovering over Lancaster when a laser was pointed from the ground directly at the aircraft.

Police used the laser to pinpoint the position of the man shining the laser.

He was then arrested by police on the scene.

The laser was used to pinpoint the whereabouts of the culprit.

The incident happened at 8.30pm on November 15.

According to the NPAS Warton Twitter account for the force police helicopter, under Article 222 Air Navigation Order: ‘A person must not direct or shine any light at any aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot.’

No further details of the arrest were available at time of going to press.

NPAS Warton @NPAS_Warton tweeted: “Shining a laser at an aircraft is an offence you can and will be arrested for. Why would you do it? #notworthit.

And in another tweet, NPAS Warton said about the picture (above): “As you can see from the view we have you are quite easy to spot.”

The police helicopter was also above Bolton-le-Sands at 8.02pm on the same night, to reports a cattle trailer had been stolen. A dog handler arrested one person at the scene.