Fochabers life-ring vandalism condemned
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VANDALS who targeted a riverside safety device in Fochabers have been slammed for potentially putting lives at risk.
At some point over Thursday, November 12 or the early hours of Friday, November 13 thugs singled out one of the life-rings placed along the banks of the River Spey, in this case near Fochabers Cricket Club.
Those responsible opened the cabinet in which the life-ring is stored and attempted to throw it in the water. However, their ultimate efforts proved in vain and the life-ring became stuck in the branches of a tree from where it was later recovered.
The life-ring is one a series placed at strategic points along the bank of the river from the Fochabers area down to Spey Bay. Behind the scheme were the local team of retained firefighters who, with others, raised the money to purchase the equipment.
Fochabers fire station crew commander Dave Crawford said: "This has left us pretty disgusted, to be honest, and we'd appeal to the local community or anyone else who may have information about this to get in touch with the police as soon as possible."
"As the name suggests, these life-rings are there to try and save lives. It buys vital time for someone who has fallen in until the emergency services arrive.
"To tamper with or vandalise one of them is potentially putting lives at risk."
Anyone who believes they have information relating to this incident is urged to phone Police Scotland on 101 or visit their local police station – quote the reference 1039 of the 13th.
