Raising awareness of coastal crime watch initiative on Mayo island

A multi-agency awareness promotion to combat coastal waters being used by criminals took place at Achill Island yesterday evening.

Local Sergeant Sinead Barrett, accompanied by colleagues from the Mayo Drugs Unit, joined Achill Coast Guard and Revenue Customs to provide information on the Coastal Watch Initiative to people crossing Achill Bridge.

Coastal Watch works to prevent and detect illegal activity in Ireland's waters.

Some of the risk indicators that members of the public are requested to be on the lookout for are:

- Suspicious activity in relation to persons or vehicles

- Ships and yachts sighted in remote areas

- Crew making landings in remote areas

- Unusual objects at sea or ashore

- Ships away from their normal shipping lanes

- Vessels operating at night without lights

- Packages floating in the sea, lying on the beach or hidden close to the shore

If you spot something suspicious and want to make a report to Coastal Watch, you can contact them confidentially at 1800 295 295, contact the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 or in an emergency dial 999 or 112.