Four arrested in Ribbleton after police helicopter is harassed by laser whilst searching for missing people

Four people have been arrested after a police helicopter was harassed by a laser from a house in Ribbleton last night (Thursday, September 10).
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The police helicopter had been searching for high risk missing people when its pilot was briefly blinded by a laser from the city streets below.

The person with the laser continued to harass the pilot for some time and the police helicopter team was forced to call off the search for the missing people.

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But with the help of aircraft crew on board, officers on the ground were directed to a home in Ribbleton where the laser was believed to be coming from.

Officers visited the home and all four people inside - two adults and two teenagers - were arrested.

Lancashire Police said hi-res footage taken from the helicopter's aerial cameras will be reviewed, with the suspects being interviewed today.

PC Hargreaves, of Preston's immediate response team, was among the officers on the ground who traced the laser to the home in Ribbleton.

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He said: “Shining a laser at an aircraft is extremely dangerous. It can cause the crew to be disoriented, which can have disastrous consequences.

Four people have been arrested after a police helicopter was harassed by a laser from a house in Ribbleton last night (September 10). Pic: Lancashire PoliceFour people have been arrested after a police helicopter was harassed by a laser from a house in Ribbleton last night (September 10). Pic: Lancashire Police
Four people have been arrested after a police helicopter was harassed by a laser from a house in Ribbleton last night (September 10). Pic: Lancashire Police

"We want to make it clear that this should not be done for any reason and there are serious consequences for such behaviour.

"NPAS (National Police Air Service) is an expensive but invaluable resource in policing and therefore positive action will always be taken in these scenarios."

A spokesman for Preston Police tweeted: "Whilst you slept last night #Team5IR have been continuing to investigate crime and keep people safe.

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"This included assistance from the National Police Air Service in searching for a number of high risk missing people, whom were in serious danger.

"However, during the search the police helicopter was harassed by a laser being shone into the sky by a member of a household in Ribbleton.

"This kind of behaviour places a serious risk to the safety of the aircraft and also prevented the use of the helicopter in looking for the missing person."