The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Thefts ‘putting lives at risk’
Aspate of thefts and vandalism to life saving equipment along Dundee waterfront could have potentially fatal consequences, it has been warned.
Local volunteer group Coast watch Tay have reported 12 rescue poles and four life rings as stolen or damaged in the past month.
The incidents appear to be focused on the Riverside Drive area.
Volunteers, who normally carry out weekly patrols, are now spending more of their own time visiting the area to ensure nothing further has gone missing.
All items have been quickly replaced but the trend has raised fears that lives are being put at risk.
Poles have been snapped and “javelined” into the nearby mud, Coastwatch deputy station officer William Brown told The Courier.
He said: “T here’s 41 pieces of equipment from Broughty Ferry to near the airport. We normally have to replace about two a month, so the amount that has needed replacing this past month is worrying.
“If someone was in the water and one was missing, it could be the difference between life and death.
“The po in ts a re strategically placed where we know they may be needed, based on where the coastguard has been called out before.
“It is vital for them to be there and ready to be used when needed.”
Mr Brown hopes the culprits stop of their own volition but has asked members of the public in the area to watch out for suspicious behaviour.
“Someone will be using a life ring or pole for one of two reasons.
“One is that they are helping someone in the water, in which case you should call the emergency services.
“The other is if someone is doing something malicious, in which case we would ask people to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.”
Ross Greenhill, coastal operations area commander, echoed Mr Brown’s comments that the vandalism is putting lives at risk.
He said: “Every single second counts when someone is in difficulty in the water and therefore the reckless act of stealing or damaging a life ring or throw line could be the difference between someone surviving or not.”