Report reveals first full insights into water safety management in England

RoSPA has launched a new report into local authority approaches to managing water safety in England.

Following a snapshot survey in 2021, RoSPA and Water Safety England (WSE) have successfully completed research providing the first full insights into the current management of water safety in England.

A sample of local authorities were surveyed to understand how they plan for and deliver drowning prevention work, focusing on responsibility for water safety and existing water safety policies.

The key results include:

• 49 per cent of local authorities had a person or department designated as the lead on water safety issues
• 27 per cent of local authorities had a policy commitment on the issue
• 55 per cent of local authorities had risk assessed their open water in the past 24 months
• 34 per cent of local authorities had a water safety group for the local area
• Half of local authorities had run a water safety campaign in the last three years
• 63 per cent of local authorities provided information to key groups on water safety.

The report details further insights as well as a number of recommendations for RoSPA and Water Safety England to help promote and develop water safety management across England.

The full report can be accessed online here.