From a call of evidence to a new law in the UK, changes in the last 18 months

Over the years, the availability of lasers to the UK public has not changed. The majority of the lasers purchased by the public, many of which are laser pointers, do not meet the requirements of BS EN 60825-1: 2014. A small percentage of these laser products ends up being misused. In the past 18 months, the UK government has moved to make steps to help tackle the sale of unsafe laser pointers. This began with a call for evidence asking for stakeholders to provide findings, from measurements to accidents. One of the suggested outcomes from the call was the introduction of a specific criminal offence for ‘laser attacks’ on planes or vehicles. In 2018, the UK government passed the “Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018”, bringing in extra powers to the police as well as tougher penalties for people who target aircraft, road vehicles and boats. Discussions will be made covering the type of laser measurements made, issues found leading on to the consultation outcomes of the “Laser pointers: call for evidence”, to introducing the “Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018”.