Hello all, hope this finds you well.

Within the last two months we have received three reports from the Coastguard that their aircraft have been targeted with laser pens being shone at them.

The first incident was above central Lydd (Skinner Road area) on 28/11/2024 at 16:22 and 17:07 as the helicopter was passing over the town whilst training.

The second incident was as their fixed wing aircraft was passing over the Newchurch area on 30/12/2024 at 03:00.

The third and most recent incident was yesterday (29/01/2025) at 17:45 when their helicopter had not long lifted/taken off over the airport.

As we all know, this could have had catastrophic consequences and it is only because of the skill of the crews that a major incident was avoided.

I have known children to use laser pens in a way that could endanger others and although I am not pointing the finger at any age group, I'd like to appeal to parents/guardians of children to educate them about the proper use of them if you know that your child has one.

For any adult who owns a laser pen, I'd like to think that they would know that even pointing the beam into the sky would be dangerous and reckless and in fact pointing the laser beam at anything that their use is not intended for would also be dangerous and reckless.

If anyone has information regarding the below incidents, please report this via the Kent Police website online reporting and you can also email me but please report it first.

Crime Reference 46/206269/24 relates to the incident on 28/11/2024 Skinner Road area of Lydd at 16:22 and 17:07.

Crime Reference 46/220062/24 relates to the incident on 30/12/2024 over Newchurch at 03:00.

Crime Reference 46/16538/25 relates to the incident on 29/01/2025 over Lydd airport at 17:46.

Offences relating to air traffic services

(1)A person commits an offence if—

(a)the person shines or directs a laser beam—

(i)towards an air traffic facility, or

(ii)towards a person providing air traffic services, and

(b)the laser beam dazzles or distracts, or is likely to dazzle or distract, a person providing air traffic services.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=1fd9bee69a57199b6cb2e883e32b6e8421a39a0669f4c8371e0a6a8188b5d51bJmltdHM9MTczODE5NTIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=0ae4de4f-77be-6f86-27f8-ca9276ae6e17&psq=Shine%2fdirect+laser+beam+towards+an+air+traffic+facility++or++towards+a+person+providing+air+traffic+services&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGVnaXNsYXRpb24uZ292LnVrL3VrcGdhLzIwMTgvOQ&ntb=1

Thank you.

Steve.