Wirral lifeguards’ warning after vital equipment is stolen

May 6 2009

LIFEGUARDS have warned the theft of lifesaving equipment along Wirral’s coastline is putting lives at risk and costing the council £20,000 a year to replace.

Thieves are repeatedly targeting lifebelts, rope ladders and lanyards, which is the length of rope attached to a harness to pull those in the water safely back to shore.

Over Easter more than £1,000 worth of safety equipment was taken over just three days from the area near the Tower Grounds in New Brighton.

In some parts of Wirral the lanyards are believed to have been taking by youths who use them to make rope swings.

Wirral’s chief lifeguard Tony Jones said the most-targeted area was the stretch of promenade between New Brighton and Seacombe.

He said: "As the weather improves, theft of lifesaving equipment generally becomes more of a problem.

b "It also seems to manifest itself from the Easter holidays, probably because it’s the school holidays and it’s the first time we have lighter nights.

"This year we had a particular problem in the Tower Grounds area in New Brighton, where we were replacing about £1,000 worth of equipment over three or four successive days."

Lifeguards have teamed up with Merseyside Police and Wirral Community Patrol to tackle the rising problem.

Mr Jones said: "Part of our strategy is to give the worst-hit areas substantial police and community patrol attention."

"In addition, we have also re-launched a sticker initiative that we first launched some four or five years ago, which states that the equipment is the property of the local authority.

"Some also have the slogan ‘steal a lifebelt, steal a life".

New Brighton councillor Tony Pritchard has been working with lifeguards and council officers to start a campaign to highlight the problem.

He said: "It costs £20,000 a year to replace the equipment that is stolen, what we don’t want is for the council to decide that figure is too high, we’re going through too much safety equipment and that not all of it should be replaced.

"Sooner or later somebody is going to lose a life if this continues."

" I would urge anyone who sees a theft to report it to the police because it is a serious crime."

Constable Iain McEwan from Merseyside Police said: "I would urge people to contact the police if they see anyone misusing lifesaving equipment.

"If you actually see it happening then call 999."

Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police on 709 6010 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.