A decision to cease £11-an-hour payments for volunteer coastguards across Devon and Cornwall is generating significant concern among local politicians and community leaders. Approximately 400 Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) operating within 36 teams in the region currently receive this remuneration for their emergency call-outs. However, these payments are scheduled to stop in September.
The change stems from a legal judgment that determined volunteers should be reclassified as workers, thereby entitling them to benefits such as sick pay and holiday pay. While the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) states this new model aims to protect choice and flexibility, particularly for those volunteering alongside primary employment, critics fear the financial impact on individuals and the broader implications for the service.
Ian Roome, MP for North Devon, highlighted that these volunteers are a "lifeline" and, despite not being motivated solely by money, a sudden cut from £11 an hour to nothing could severely affect morale. He urged the MCA to outline alternative support mechanisms if direct payments cannot continue, acknowledging the dangerous and often unsocial conditions in which these volunteers operate to ensure public safety.
Further concerns were voiced by North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire, who warned that removing these payments could lead to resignations and make it considerably harder to attract new volunteers to the service. Similarly, North Devon councillor Pru Maskell emphasised the integral role of the coastguard service within the blue light emergency framework, especially for the region's crucial tourism and fishing industries. She described the modest payments as vital recognition for dangerous work and a factor in making such a significant time commitment financially viable for individuals.
The MCA has acknowledged the valuable service provided by CROs along the coastline and has committed to supporting them during this transition period. However, the precise nature of this support and how it will mitigate the financial void left by the cessation of hourly payments remains a key question for those concerned about the future strength and responsiveness of the volunteer coastguard service.