Apparently if a beam is shone directly in to a cockpit, the thousands of scratches on a windshield mean that the concentration of light is refracted, temporarily blinding pilots by causing windshields to light up.
Obviously considering the colossal speeds that aircraft move at and the distance that they can travel in a short period of time, this kind of incident causes incredible danger to those in the aircraft, dramatically increasing the chances of a crash and the possibility in some cases of injuring or killing hundreds of people.
Police have stated that anyone found with a laser torch could be arrested on sight if they are not able to produce a valid reason for carrying one.
The deliberate use of lasers to shine into aircraft is clearly an act undertaken without real consideration being given to the potential consequences of what these individuals might cause and it is good to see the police making a genuine attempt to stamp this out before a serious accident ensues. The sale of the lasers is already restricted in the UK, although, according to the BBC, there is a market for them via the internet.
However, Thames Valley Police have stated that they are working in partnership with regional police forces, the Civil Aviation Authority and the government to identify those involved in the attacks.