Needle Alert On Beaches

Beach users in Pembrokeshire are asked to be vigilant after two syringes/hypodermic needles were found on beaches in the south of the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The needles were discovered in the past couple of days at Freshwater East and at South Beach, Tenby, where it is reported that a member of the public stood on one. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is unknown if the syringes were left by users or washed ashore with the tide. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County Council beach cleaners have been checking their areas for signs of needle contamination which is difficult to detect given the size and number of Pembrokeshire’s beaches. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Authority has also been liaising with the RNLI – whose lifeguards operate on several of the more popular beaches – as well as other organisations such as the National Park Authority, Natural Resources Wales and the National Trust to raise awareness of the issue. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​