People climbing boats a problem - harbourmaster

Boats have been climbed over and jumped off, a report said

People climbing over boats while swimming in the city's ship canal "continues to be a problem", Exeter's harbourmaster has said.

A report for Exeter's harbour board said the "behaviour of young people swimming is particularly worrying", especially during school holidays.

It said boats have been climbed over and jumped off and security services have had to be called to try to curb the issue.

Harbourmaster Grahame Forshaw said all the issues reported "only represent a fraction of the true number of incidents that occur".

The report said: “The canal manager reports that swimmers in the canal during warm spells of weather continue to be a problem.

“The water quality in the canal is not overly good and bathers are oblivious to this."

It added: “Boats are being climbed over and jumped off, as are the rowing club and Haven Banks pontoons."

The report also revealed the authority has recorded 79 speeding boat incidents this summer, despite only being able to mount limited patrols.

Mr Forshaw’s report said a patrol boat had been out every weekend bar one, when the weather was too bad, but had rarely been out on weekdays.

Engine breakdowns and navigation errors were the other most likely incidents, while patrols had also dealt with two sinkings, two groundings, a collision and a man overboard.