Parents have been urged to closely supervise their children at the beach following a series of distressing and “entirely avoidable” missing child incidents, according to Lancashire police.
With warm weather drawing large crowds to coastal areas over the weekend — temperatures reached up to 24°C in parts of the UK on Saturday — Fylde Police reported multiple cases of children going missing along the shoreline. The force warned that these incidents had placed a considerable strain on both police and coastguard resources.
In a public statement, the unit described beaches as “very dangerous places for unsupervised children”, and said it was “disappointing” to find that youngsters were still being allowed to approach the sea without adult oversight.
“Even confident swimmers can quickly find themselves in danger, and these situations risk not only the lives of the children involved but also those of the emergency responders deployed in rescue operations,” a spokesperson said.
The police stressed that such incidents divert attention and resources from crime prevention and broader public safety duties. “When our officers are searching for missing children, we are not available to deal with other emergencies or prevent crime,” they added.
To help reduce risks, police have issued a list of practical safety tips for families visiting the coast. These include:
- Never allowing children to go unsupervised, particularly near the water
- Reminding children of basic safety rules, such as avoiding strangers and knowing whom to approach if lost
- Taking a photo of each child at the start of the day to aid identification if needed
- Using wristbands that carry a parent’s phone number (without names)
- Agreeing a designated meeting point for all family members in the event someone becomes separated
The force concluded by urging families to enjoy the coast responsibly, ensuring that days out don’t end in unnecessary distress.
