The Riga Municipal Police monitors the thickness of ice on water bodies every day, said Jānis Skrims, representative of the Riga Municipal Police Water Safety Administration, in an interview with Latvian Radio on 4th February.
“Police officers walk several dozen kilometres a day. It’s physically challenging work for the officers right now,” said Skrims. He pointed out that the police primarily assess areas that are most accessible to residents.
When asked how thick the ice must be to be considered safe, Skrims said that it depends on the body of water itself, as there are many other criteria to be assessed, such as the under-ice current.
Skrims reminded residents that when crossing the Daugava River, they should not go under bridges.
“Under bridges, the current breaks up the ice layer, and there is no guarantee that the ice will be thick enough,” explained Skrims.
“Our primary duty is to ensure that people do not fall through the ice,” said Skrims.
If a person on the ice in a place where it is not permitted refuses to leave, the police can initiate administrative proceedings, said Skrims, but he emphasised that the main task of the police is to prevent dangerous situations.
Residents are urged to observe safety requirements and choose only permitted areas for recreation on the ice, which can be viewed on a specially created ice map on both the Riga City Council and municipal police websites.
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