§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) cases and (b) arrests his Department has recorded in respect of police officers being assaulted with laser pens.[15922]
§ Mr. MichaelIt is not possible to ascertain from the information collected centrally how many recorded offences or arrests involved the use of laser pens. Any injury or attempted injury to a police officer, irrespective of how it is inflicted, is a very serious matter and the police have my full support in acting against the perpetrator. I have invited the Superintendents' Association, which has expressed particular concerns, to provide information about the experience of their members and will keep the problem under review in the light of any evidence from police sources and elsewhere.