To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought in the past 12 months for assault involving a laser pen. [16970]

People carrying laser pens with intent to cause injury may be liable to prosecution under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, as amended by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 section 2(1).Court proceedings data collected centrally, under this legislation, do not record the type of weapon or article used.