POLICE have vowed to clamp down on residents shining laser pens from their high-rise flats on the flightpath to Southend Airport.

A 20-year-old man, who lives in Beaver Tower, Mansell Close, Eastwood, was caught shining the laser out of the building.

If a laser is shined into the eye of a pilot, it can dazzle them, risking the safety of the aircraft.

Police have now launched an operation to tackle the problem, targeting people hanging around in nearby Eastwood Park.

Sgt Tracey Butt, of Eastwood police, said: “We’ve had reports of several incidents of laser pens so we have been targeting Eastwood Park. We’ve spoken to three people and outlined the law to them in relation to shining them in people’s eyes at aircraft and explained how much trouble they could be in should it continue.”

The 20-year-old man who lives in Beaver Tower was given a warning, along with a 16-year-old boy who was using a laser pen at the park.

A third man, aged 18, was arrested, but later released without charge.

Sgt Butt said it is not illegal to possess the lasers, but it is illegal to import ones stronger than 1000 milliwatts.

But people who shine them can be arrested for assault or endangering life.

She said: “It’s not an offence to have it, but it could cause damage to people if you shine it in their faces. They were also hitting Beaver Tower and that’s on the flight path so that was the serious concern.”

The operation, codenamed Poncho, also aims to tackle other nuisance youth problems around the park.

Sgt Butt explained: “We’ve had a few incidents of general nuisance.

“Some of the boys are now getting into large groups of ten plus which is intimidating for people, so we are working with youth offending and the schools to speak to the children about acting appropriately.”