Warning: Yobs shining laser pens at ships after five warned by harbor staff
Harbour staff have warned yobs about shining laser pens at ships after five were targeted in the last six weeks.
One ship worker had to be given medical attention after a beam was shone directly into his eye.
And now staff at the Cromarty Firth port authority in Invergordon, Highlands, are warning the yobs to stop.
- The first incidence of laser beams was reported on 13th June when the green laser beams were pointed from the firth’s southern shore.
- In another incident, a contractor on a ship that was carrying out maintenance on a buoy had a laser shone into his eye, forcing him to seek medical attention.
- After this, there were 4 more such incidents of green laser beams being shone into the bridges of passing ships.
Torquil Macleod, the harbour master for the port authority, said that this has now become a serious problem for staff and contractors in the port. People using laser pens may think they are just shining them into the open waters and it is harmless. But the port operates 24 hours a day and people do often work in the dark in the firth. These pens are causing serious health and safety issues for our staff, customers, and contractors. This appeal should serve as a warning to members of the public who use these gadgets. We would urge them to use laser pens with the utmost care and not to shine them into the waters of the firth.
Earlier, there was a similar situation when lasers were being shone at vehicles in the area around Inverness, Highlands. The Coastguard helicopter based in the city has been targeted several times, including an incident where a beam was shone into the cockpit as it carried out a search along the River Ness.
John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, observed that from one perspective, this is simple assault but on another, it is a potentially serious matter of public safety. The authorities must use all means to trace the culprit or culprits and hand down suitable sentences. It must be noted that there is far too much of this kind of conduct and it causes significant risk, not just to the individual but to the wider public as well.
Police Scotland have confirmed that shining laser pens at vehicles is a criminal offence.
A spokeswoman said that police Scotland would urge people in possession of these type of devices not to misuse them and reminds people that it is a criminal offence taken very seriously by Police Scotland and the Scottish courts.
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Source: Herald Scotland
