Towards zero drownings: building a future where everyone in Scotland can be safe in, on and around the water: Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy 2026-2030

As Minister for Victims and Community Safety, it is my priority that we have a society in which people feel, and are, safer in their communities. In the context of drowning prevention, this means supporting individuals to be safe from unintentional harm, such as from accidents in our waterways. Our approach to achieving this is grounded in prevention and early intervention and as part of this, Scottish Government has provided long term support to Water Safety Scotland to deliver a coordinated approach to drowning prevention activity.

I am therefore very pleased to support Scotland’s latest Drowning Prevention Strategy, which outlines the direction of travel and tangible actions to progress prevention activity and reduce the risk of drownings in our waterways over the next four years.

Central to this strategy is the need for continued focus, commitment and collaboration by water safety partners to build on the progress already made so far, as only our collective efforts will help us to deliver the change we need. I am grateful to partners for their steadfast involvement and contribution to support this work to date, and in time look forward to seeing how further collaboration can really deliver on this vital preventative work.

I also recognise that to prevent accidental drownings, we must double down on our efforts to reach those at the greatest risk of water-related incidents, as well as achieve greater awareness amongst the general public of the dangers of the water. I know significant progress has already been made in realising this, and plans on how this will be built upon is well set out in the strategy.

While further work undoubtedly remains, I am encouraged by the progress made so far and that there has been an overall decline in accidental drownings since the launch of the initial strategy in 2018. Through this successive strategy, partners have a solid foundation for the ongoing effort and I look forward to continuing to move towards our shared ambition of having safer, more resilient communities.