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More than one quarter of coastguard watches in the UK were staffed below safe levels last summer, figures obtained by PCS reveal.
 According to Maritime and Coastguard Agency data, more than 3,300 of a total of 15,000 watches – across 15 stations where figures were available – were staffed below the risk assessed levels between January 2012 and May 2013.
During the coastguard service's busiest period, May to September 2012, more than 1,100 of 4,400 shifts were affected.
In five of the stations – Aberdeen, Belfast, Dover, Falmouth and Thames – shifts were staffed below the risk level more than a third of the time. In all but one of these five the percentage rose during the summer months.
The union says the figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, paint a deeply troubling picture as the government presses ahead with plans to close nine of the UK's 19 coastguard stations and cut 140 jobs.
Clyde and Forth in Scotland, and Yarmouth in the east of England have already shut ahead of a new national operations centre on the south coast being up and running, contrary to a previous assurance from the MCA that this would not happen.
The union remains opposed to the closures, saying the government has failed to make a convincing case to either the public or parliament that lives will not be put at risk.
 PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
"It is truly shocking that coastguard stations are so regularly running below safe levels and this must be addressed as a priority.
We have never been convinced of the government's case for the closure of half of our coastguard stations and believe public safety is being compromised in the drive to make cuts."
The figures show that for the 15 UK stations where figures were provided, 3,311.2 of 15,084* (21.9%) watches were staffed below risk assessed levels between January 2012 and May 2013.
Between May and September 2012, 1,180.5 of 4,406* (26.79%) watches were affected.
These were the five worst affected stations – out of a total of 1,034 watches.
Figures in square brackets cover May to September 2012 only – out of 306 watches
Aberdeen: 502 (48.5%) [165.5 (54%)]
Belfast: 419 (40.5%) [115 (37.5%)]
Dover 456 (44.1%) [171 (55.8%)]
Falmouth 370 (35.7%) [153 (50%)]
Thames 644 (62.2%) [204 (66.6%)]
[*data for Brixham was unavailable for January 2012 to July 2012]
Source: PCS
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