Beach patrols for northern beaches

The Civil Protection Department and volunteer groups are organising beach patrols on all major beaches in the north of Malta.

Officially launching this summer's beach patrol service at the CPD Xemxija station yesterday morning, CPD director Peter Cordina said the department's volunteers, together with the St John Ambulance, St John Rescue Corps and the Malta Red Cross, were responsible for patrolling the beaches on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, when beaches were most populated.

Beach patrols are being held for the ninth consecutive year thanks to the participation of dedicated volunteers, Mr Cordina said.

The CPD director said the public should make an effort not to litter beaches with glass bottles, tins and other kinds of waste that were dangerous to bathers.

"Many people have a bad habit of leaving their rubbish on the beach after a barbecue. A child playing in the sand is likely to cut himself with a tin dumped the night before," Mr Cordina said, explaining that rescuers attend to tens of people who injure themselves on beaches on a daily basis.