Thursday 22 September 2011

Old Ordnance

Residents of Swanage found they could not get past the Police Station yesterday, with Kings Road West Closed off for a couple of hours.

The rumour mill was in top form as it normally is in the town but the real reason for this was that someone had found two small "Shells" - no not the sort you find on the beach but old wartime ordnance.

We do not know how this person came to have these items but they decided to take them to the Police Station and hand them in. The items were immediately taken to the yard and advice was sought from a EOD team (Bomb Disposal team). Due to the condition of these items the EOD team had to come and deal with them as soon as possible.

As a Coastguard team we are often involved in these types of incidents, our advice is this -

Never touch any ordnance
If you are not sure what the item is leave it where it is.
Never transport the item to a Coastguard Station or Police Station

Phone 999 and ask for the Police (if the item is above the high water mark) or Coastguard (if below the high water mark)

2 comments:

Barry said...

What if it is ON the high water mark? Do you have to flip a coin to decide who deals with it.

Occasional Blog said...

Good idea Barry, although whoever is first on scene generally gives it a good kick till its one side of the line or the other, according to their preference.