Statement issued on behalf of HALC (Harbour Authorities Liaison Committee) – 1st August 2025:
Sadly, we’re witnessing more and more anti-social behaviour along the waterfront. The behaviour is not only inappropriate but also dangerous.
As the weather warms up and with the school holidays in full swing, we’re witnessing reckless and potentially life-altering/cause of death activities including:
- young people jumping off harbour walls
- swimming in prohibited areas, which includes the whole of the Cattewater, Millbay, Sutton Harbour, as well as large areas within Plymouth Sound
- a lack of awareness or consideration to power-driven commercial and leisure vessel movements, and;
- vandalism of safety and life-saving equipment.
We’re parents and guardians ourselves; we know that on a sunny day the water looks really inviting and young people tombstoning/jumping in the water with friends can seem to be a fun pastime…until it’s not and an accident happens. Tombstoning is extremely dangerous and costs lives.
Dangers of tombstoning (source: https://www.rospa.com/water-safety/tombstoning)
- Water depths
- Visibility
- Cold Water Shock
- Strong Currents
- Exiting the water
We know that the majority of people enjoying the water aim to do so safely but please follow this stark warning from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency:
Think before you jump: don’t let alcohol, drugs or peer pressure affect your judgement; even if you’re jumping safely, children may be watching and try to copy your actions. Since 2004 the Coastguard has dealt with over 200 incidents, with 70 injuries and 20 deaths. Of those injured the youngest was 12 and the oldest was 45. Don’t jump into the unknown.
Plymouth provides wonderful opportunities to enjoy the sea, and has a range of designated swim areas, clearly buoyed and marked. Bathing areas are shown on current Admiralty charts and marked with seasonal marker buoys and include Bovisand Bay, Crownhill Bay, Cawsand Bay, Firestone Bay and Tinside East. Swimmers should always be visible when swimming in designated areas by wearing a highly visible swimming hat and using a swimming tow float.
For more information please visit resources: KHM Plymouth – Swimming and download the updated Plymouth MPA Water Users Guide.
The anti-social, rude and insulting behaviour our teams are being subjected to, as well as local business owners, vessel operators and members of the general public who try to politely explain why these activities aren’t allowed is highly concerning; we’re now clamping down hard on those who flout the rules and continue to put themselves, and others, in danger.
Kim Downer, interim CEO, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership:
“Plymouth Waterfront Partnership works with partners across the waterfront to provide a safe and welcoming place for locals and visitors to enjoy, especially over the summer period, but the behaviour we’re witnessing recently by a small minority is anti-social and dangerous. We don’t want this to be a visitor’s lasting impression of our waterfront and city.
Businesses are also being impacted – no one should have to feel unsafe in their workplace by those who are determined to cause trouble. We welcome HALC’s and other authorities’ stance on this matter.”
The harbour authorities will be working with a range of partners across the city’s waterfront including the police and local councillors to ensure there is a stronger presence and more regular patrols of the area to deter such activity and, take steps to prosecute if applicable.
