Officers have issued a statement that people should make sure that children are not left unsupervised on beaches as they can be ‘very dangerous places’
Families are being cautioned following “several” reports of children going missing at beaches, as the warm weather draws crowds to the coast. The authorities have reminded the public to keep a vigilant eye on their youngsters amidst concerns over seaside safety.
The recent bout of blue skies and brilliant sunshine aligning with the Easter holidays has seen an influx of people heading to the coast, particularly in Lancashire where many have flocked to enjoy the balmy conditions.
Notably, the Fylde coast, which includes Blackpool, has been a hotspot for beach-goers.
Yet, concern has risen as Lancashire Police reported that they had dealt with ‘several reports of missing children’ just in the last two days.
Law enforcement emphasised that these ‘avoidable’ incidents necessitated a ‘significant amount’ of police and coastguard resources in the search efforts, diverting them from addressing other criminal activities.
A statement issued by Fylde Police highlighted the hazards of leaving children unattended, noting the potential dangers they may encounter in the water.
They stressed the extensive use of police and coastguard resources required in these situations, reports the Mirror.
In their message, the force conveyed: “Now the warm weather is here we have noticed an increase in visitors and families enjoying the beach. Whilst this is lovely to see, we want families to do this safely.
“The beach is a very dangerous place for unsupervised children, and it is disappointing to see that youngsters are still regularly permitted to approach the water unsupervised.
“This could prove fatal, even to those who are competent swimmers. You are also risking the lives of the coastguards who would be deployed in a rescue situation.
“In 2 days, there have been several reports of missing children, which have used a significant amount of police and coastguard resources.
“These incidents are completely avoidable and have a detrimental impact to the service we offer, as when police officers are looking for lost children, we are unable to deal with or prevent crime.”