As hot weather sets in, all citizens tend to relax in public recreation areas, mainly near water bodies.
As hot weather sets in, all citizens tend to relax in public recreation areas, mainly near water bodies. As past years' experience and the situation developing at the water bodies of Lepel district show, many of us ignore the simplest rules of conduct on water and do not observe safety measures while swimming. Often, people swim outside designated areas, and in most cases, while intoxicated and unable to swim. Of particular concern is the fact that not only adults but also children die on the water.
The main causes of death on the water are the consumption of alcoholic beverages, violation of rules of conduct and safety measures on water, swimming of children without adult supervision, inability to swim, as well as swimming in unauthorized places.
Theft of personal belongings of holidaymakers is also a significant problem. Often, when going for a swim, citizens leave valuables on the shore, namely mobile phones, documents, precious metal items, and cash. Consequently, if there are those who carelessly leave their property, there will also be those who are not averse to taking advantage of this situation.
According to the decision of the Lepel District Executive Committee, the public recreation areas in Lepel district are: the beach of Lake Lepel, the beach of Lake Svyatoye, and the beach of KUP DROTS Zhemchuzhina on Lake Shchybot, located in the village of Borovka. To ensure public order and safety of citizens in these areas, police officers organize their patrolling. During duty, the main attention is paid to preventing theft, suppressing hooligan actions and drinking of alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages or beer, polluting the surrounding territory, lighting fires in unauthorized places, and the entry of vehicles into recreation zones.
It should also be reminded that administrative responsibility is provided for each of the above-mentioned acts:
- Article 19.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus for offensive harassment of citizens and other intentional actions that violate public order, the activities of organizations or the peace of citizens and are expressed in clear disrespect for society, entails a fine of two to thirty basic units, or community service, or administrative arrest;
- Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus for drinking alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages or beer on the street, stadium, public garden, park, public transport or other public places, except for places intended for consumption of alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages or beer, or appearing in a public place in a state of alcoholic intoxication that offends human dignity and public morality, entails a fine of up to eight base units;
- Article 24.42 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus for swimming in prohibited areas of rivers, lakes or other water bodies entails a fine of one to three base units.
It should be noted that as of 24.07.2023, employees of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs have brought 12 residents of Lepel District to administrative responsibility for drinking alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages or beer in public recreation areas, and 10 citizens have been brought to administrative responsibility for swimming in prohibited areas.
We remind you that facts of any violations in public recreation areas can be reported 24/7 to the duty officer of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Phones of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs – 102, 32083
List of prohibited swimming areas, Lepel town:
1. Near bridges: on Very Margievich St., Zhigar St., Pushkin St., Ulianka St., pontoon bridge in the city park.
2. Near the Lepel Hydroelectric Power Station.
3. In fire reservoirs of enterprises and organizations of the district.
Head of the Department for the Protection of Public Order and Prevention of Public Security Police of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs