The volunteer team at Ryde Inshore Rescue have been left saddened by a mindless act of vandalism which has seen their launch vehicle’s windscreen smashed, rendering it out of service.
Sometime in the last 24-72 hours, Ryde Rescue’s main launch vehicle, a John Deer tractor painted and wrapped in the charities red and black branding, has been the target of vandals.
The volunteer lifeboat crew have expressed their devastation and anger on their social media channels this afternoon (Sunday).
CCTV cameras in the area are currently being reviewed by the volunteer crew and the Police have been made aware of the incident.
A spokesperson for Ryde Inshore Rescue has said:
“Well it would appear after a fantastic day for our New Years swim with 66 amazing people venturing in for a paddle….. today we come back to earth with a bang.
“Sometime in the last 24-72 hours our main launch vehicle has been taken out of service by what we believe can only be mindless act of vandalism by having is windscreen smashed.
“Needless to say everyone who volunteers at the station is once again devastated and angered how someone could do this do a life saving charity, our CCTV is being is being reviewed in the hope it will give us and the Police some information.
“Once again we call upon our friends and supporters if you know anything or hear anything please get in touch with ourselves or the Police quoting crime ref. 44200005054”
This is not the first time Ryde Inshore Rescue has been subject to vandalism, in 2014 their 2 lifeboats were punctured, putting them out of service.
If you witnessed this incident or have information regarding the vandalism attack, contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101 quoting crime reference number 44200005054. Or if you wish to stay anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.



























































































why just why
Because there is no law
Oh there’s law – just no one with the will or interest to implement it.
Put a set of stocks outside there HQ and when they catch these mindless idiots, put them in them for at least three days with just water soeverybody can see what scumbags look like. We are to soft with this kind of offence. What do you expect with no police on the streets at night, don’t say we don’t have them. Put a football match on pompy and you will see dozens of them.
Well said Colin..
Yet another mindless act with huge consequences for the Ryde Inshore Rescue .
What on Earth is the motivation. If caught then we need a realistic punishment.
No suspended sentences. No small fines. Something that makes them suffer and realise that their action is not acceptable in a civilised society.
Maybe a long stretch cleaning at Ryde Inshore Rescue unpaid.
Absolute scum!
WHY ?
No honestly, what is wrong with these parasites.
Do they not even realise they may one day need this operation, or their loved ones.
Did people years ago act like this.. short answer…. NO.
We had (have) respect.
I can’t understand, nor do I have a answer. God help us all
No body is afraid of the law.
If they catch which did this they should cut their fingers off.
Scumbags hope they don’t require the lifeboats assistance in the future.
Throw them into the sea and watch them cry when no one comesto rescue them!
I don’t know how to do this but could someone set up a go fund me page I would be happy to donate, hopefully the tie rags will never need this service but for myself children and grandchildren we can’t do without. Many thanks
https://www.gofundme.com/f/repair-ryde-rescue-volunteers-launch-vessel?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
A great idea. Also all donations benefit from gift aid if you are a tax payer. So for every £1 you donate Ryde Inshore Rescue get £1-25
Start donating. The target is £2000
We need to change the word ‘vandals’ to something more insulting, as, in my opinion, it is a diluted word, seen too many times in local and national papers, and which doesn’t really insult the perpetrators. How about ‘mindless cretins’ or ‘lowlife scum’ instead. As for the punishment, you can blame the pc brigade for ruining this. In the States, chain gangs exist, where offenders are dressed in orange jumpsuits, given a menial job to do for the community, and overseen by officers carrying guns. Don’t think this will happen in my lifetime – but what a deterrent!
Hope that Ryde Inshore Rescue are back in action soon.
Now this did’nt happen because of mainland scum did it! No its because youngsters from the isle of wight have boredom and unemployment to contend with. Take a leaf from some of our colleagues from Hungary and Poland get off your backside and travel to get work!!
The ONLY way low life will and can ‘ever’ achieve any ‘fame’ is doing something cowardly but nasty.
Hence YOU are all commenting on their actions.
If they had done ‘nothing’ then they would not even be noticed in life.
The thick on here who say the RNLI should force them to work, are clueless, as to what sort these low lives are.
We have had criminal forced help at work. They do hardly anything, deliberately break/steal equipment, are abusive to customers and staff, and COST the company a fortune in health and safety training, safety work wear, and our insurance is much higher, all for NO gain, just a silly way of the dim PUBLIC thinking wrongly, ‘that’ll learn them’ when it does nothing of the sort. They use EVERY excuse why the can’t turn up, illness, broken transport, sick children etc.
Better to get a few decent men from the RNLI to have a chat with them once they find them, but leave it for a while until they have had a ‘chat’ from the Police, the RNLI chiefs, who are stupid enough to think, that a ‘chat’ will do them good as if they never ‘realised’ the dangers they put other in. They DO, and could not care less, as it won’t be them and they know the odds of it being someone they know is ‘as likely’ as them EVER getting caught.
Since the third world have arrived, our jails are so full that criminals know they are safe on such issues such as this.
Cut all benefits to their parents, and them to the bone, and await the real men to chat, one dark night, is the ONLY language that will be understood.
Low life
Bloody Disgusting hope you find who did this name and shame them
that is just so stupid