Council warning after life buoys used as dog toys
Torridge District Council said there had been multiple occasions where equipment used to rescue people had been vandalised at leisure spots, including Kenwith Valley Reservoir, which is popular with dog walkers.
The council, which has more than 40 life-saving items across the district, said it had seen "lifebuoys used as dog toys, throw lines in trees and boxes thrown into water or gone missing".
Phillip Hackett, the council's safety lead, said: "Lives are priceless - you wouldn't tamper with a parachute, you wouldn't tamper with a safety belt in the car."
More news stories for Devon
Listen to the latest news for Devon
The council said the cost of replacing damaged items was adding up, but its main concern was people's safety.
"The monetary side isn't the main driver here," Hackett said.
The council said adding padlocks to boxes which hold equipment could waste vital seconds in an emergency.
Chris Willson, a coastal engineer for Torridge District Council, said: "Unfortunately people seem to like to vandalise certain items.
"It is quite a concern, especially if someone were to be in danger."
The council said anyone who witnessed vandalism should report it to the police and damaged equipment should be reported to the council.
Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
CCTV upgrade after play park paint attack
Plumber fixes vandalised toilet as Christmas gift
Play park vandalised for second time this year
Torridge District Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
£10,000 reward for information about alleged murder of newborn found in canal
A £10,000 reward is being offered for information about the alleged murder of a newborn baby boy whose body was found in a canal more than four years ago. The body was discovered in the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Rough Wood Country Park, near Willenhall in the West Midlands, in May 2021, and despite police investigations and appeals, the baby's mother has still not been identified. West Midlands Police is treating the newborn's death as murder and independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the offences linked to the baby boy's death. Detective Superintendent Jim Munro said in a statement at the scene that officers believe the baby was full-term and light-skinned and urged his parents to come forward. He said: 'What we are doing today is, we are coming back to the scene and we are asking for information in relation to the identity of that baby's parents or directly appealing to the parents to come forward and give us information to explain what happened to the baby.' He added: 'Four years on, loyalties may have changed, information may have come to hand to people. We ask those people to come forward and provide us with that information. 'I urge people to think of their consciences, think of what information may have come to their notice, whether that be at the time and they didn't feel the need to come forward, or now four years on, to help us understand what happened to that poor baby.' At the time, officers said the baby was 'probably not alive' when he was put into the canal and may have been in the water for up to four days before being discovered by a passer-by in a stretch of canal off Hunts Lane. Mr Munro said the baby boy deserves justice and his 'short life and tragic death must not be forgotten'. Alan Edwards, West Midlands regional manager at Crimestoppers, said: 'This is a particularly sad and tragic case that has deeply affected the local community. 'We urgently need information that can help bring justice for this little boy and support for his mother. 'We believe someone out there knows something and we want to encourage them to come forward anonymously. 'The £10,000 reward is offered to prompt anyone with information to speak up, no matter how small the detail.' Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded, and you will not go to court.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Stab victim ‘gave grief' to murder-accused's friend over £20 debt, trial told
An 18-year-old man who was stabbed in the heart with a Rambo-style knife had given 'grief' over a £20 cannabis debt to the friend of a teenager accused of his murder, a trial has heard. Jurors were told that Charles Hartle, 18, wearing a balaclava, grinned when he 'thrust' the knife into Noah Smedley's chest after a drug deal in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on the evening of December 28 last year. Hartle, also known as Charlie, was 17 at the time of the alleged attack. The defendant, of Station Road, Stanley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in a public place but denies murder. Marcus Coleman, a friend of Hartle's who was 'feet away' from the attack, went with two other friends and the defendant to buy cannabis from Mr Smedley that evening. Mr Coleman, who was 17 at the time but is now 18, denied that there was animosity between him and Mr Smedley because of an incident months earlier. Peter Joyce KC, defending Hartle, cross-examined Mr Coleman, who gave evidence from behind a screen at Derby Crown Court on Thursday, and said: 'Noah had been causing you… some grief about a £20 debt of cannabis a little while before.' The witness replied: 'It was a separate incident that happened months prior, it had nothing to do with this incident.' Mr Joyce said: 'I suggest it was on this night you saw Charlie for the first time in four months, that's when you told him about the problem with Noah. 'You told him that Noah was giving you grief. Noah had really annoyed you, irritated you, hacked you off.' Mr Coleman said it was 'not really a problem'. Mr Joyce said: 'There was no need at all for four of you to go and meet Noah was there? Unless there was a second purpose that required all four of you to go, namely to give him a bit of a slapping. 'For the next four hours the three of you are together at your home aren't you? The three of you instead spent between nine o'clock and one o'clock… doing a number of things. One, smoking weed. Two, talking about what had happened and, I suggest, agreeing your stories.' Mr Coleman replied: 'No sir.' Mr Joyce asked: 'Did you decide you would not say the three of you had a grudge against Noah?' The witness said no. Mr Coleman said: 'We weren't really talking about anything sir, we were shocked. We were trying to distract ourselves with the cannabis and I think I was on my PS5 at the time, trying to distract myself from the situation.' When asked why he left the scene with his friends after Hartle ran away instead of helping Mr Smedley, Mr Coleman said he was 'scared' and added: 'I still regret it to this day.' Mr Joyce said: 'You ran away from Noah in the opposite direction and you took a roundabout route to get away so you would not be seen. 'I'm going to suggest that the reason for all of that was that all four of you – you three and Charlie – had agreed earlier that Noah was to be given a bit of a slapping.' Mr Coleman replied: 'No, not true sir.' The trial continues.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police Scotland requests extra officers from across UK to support upcoming Donald Trump visit
Police Scotland has told Sky News it has requested extra officers from across the UK to support the upcoming visit by US President Donald Trump. has confirmed the trip to his golf resorts in Scotland and will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney for informal talks. The visit is expected to last several days and will likely include stays at both his Turnberry and Aberdeenshire courses. A source previously told Sky News up to 5,000 officers could be required to police the visit with officers being asked to work 12-hour shifts. The security operation is being likened to that seen following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth in 2022. The White House is yet to publicly confirm any details of the planned timing of the trip comes as the Trump family prepare to open a new course for golfers in Aberdeenshire. Trump officials declined to comment. Read more: The president's private visit to will come ahead of his . Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said: "A policing plan will be in place to maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest and minimise disruption. "The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other UK police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements."
