Lifeguards do not have the authority to intervene in situations where people are behaving inappropriately on public beaches, but they have the responsibility to inform the police and request their involvement, the Malta Tourism Authority said.

The MTA’s position on the duties of lifeguards was sought by The Malta Independent after a woman used the social media to say that lifeguards at St George’s Bay refused to intervene to stop a couple having sex on the beach in broad daylight last Sunday morning.

The woman’s post sparked a debate on whether it is actually part of the lifeguards’ responsibility to do so.

Some argued that lifeguards are there for the purpose of helping people in difficulty while swimming and should not act like policemen. Others insisted that lifeguards should have the authority to act in these circumstances.

Writing on Facebook, the woman said that a couple was having sex at the edge of the water, naked, and in full view of children who were playing in the sand last Sunday morning. She said that when she approached the lifeguard she was told that it was not their responsibility.

The police were called but by the time they turned up – an hour later, the woman says – the couple had finished their business and left.

Kids had been staring at the couple, the woman said. “Who is going to keep our beaches and kids safe?”

In reply to questions, the MTA said, without going into the merits of this particular case, that lifesaving operators should provide the following services on Malta & Gozo’s beaches:

-          to prepare beach risk assessments;

-          to provide presence of lifeguards and a life-saving service;

-          to provide first aid facilities and first aid service;

-          liaison with other agencies including Emergency Departments, CPD, TM, etc. to ensure proper co-ordination;

-          the keeping of safety flags;

-          patrolling to identify hazards;

-          monitoring of sea conditions;

-          monitoring of swimmer zone for presence of fishing and boats.

“The presence of Beach Supervisors on the other hand, is intended to provide a first level monitoring vis-à-vis the beach code of conduct, however, there are situations which beach supervisors cannot address on their own and in these cases and thus Beach Supervisors liase directly with the Malta Police Force.”