Not got bigger fish to fry? Police officer poses for photo with huge seal near Durdle Door after cordoning off beach to 'protect' it from the public
- An officer from Dorset Police has sparked fury after posing with seal on beach
- The beach had been cordoned off to 'protect' seal as it nested at Durdle's Door
- Members of the public have blasted the force for not prioritising serious crimes
- READ MORE: Moment police officers stop traffic to let family of ducks cross road
Police have been criticised after an officer posed for a photo with a huge seal, having cordoned off a beach to 'protect' it from the public.
Officers attended the picturesque Durdle Door after reports that a seal was nesting on the beach at the popular beach spot and attracting a crowd of onlookers.
To safeguard the adult seal, they set up a cordon around the nesting mammal, with one officer taking the opportunity to snap a photo in front of the sea creature.
The police officer can be seen standing some feet away from the seal, and smiling as the famous limestone arch is visible in the background.
However, the image sparked a response from locals who questioned whether it was the best use of police resources.
A Dorset police officer has come under fire for posing for a photo with a 'protected' seal on a beach - despite allegedly warning members of the public to stay away from the mammal
To safeguard the adult seal, they set up a cordon around the nesting mammal, with one officer taking the opportunity to snap a photo in front of the sea creature
Dorset Police posted on their Facebook page: 'Wareham Police were called to Durdle Door this afternoon to put a seal on crime.
'The sun finally shone this afternoon inviting a beautiful seal to Durdle Door beach for an afternoon of relaxation through the Easter holidays.
'Police were called to cordon a section of beach off to keep a safe distance between the public and the seal.
'This also provided the Seal with enough space to feel comfortable and avoid him getting stressed. As you can see, he did just that!'
While some people applauded the officers for protecting wildlife, others were left less than impressed - accusing the force of splashing around and wasting valuable time and resources.
Angered local residents have accused the police of hypocrisy, as authorities allegedly people not to go to the beach to look at or photograph the seal - but the officer is pictured doing just that.
Below the post, Jack Lee said: 'Aren't there more pressing things to deal with than a day at the beach? I'm still waiting for someone to turn up to my robbery that happened last year.'
Dave Poultney wrote: 'An animal in its natural habitat needs police attendance yet you won’t investigate a burglary and theft from a vehicle.'
The image quickly gained traction online, sparking a flurry of mixed reactions and heated debate from the public
Dorset Police said: 'Police were called to cordon a section of beach off to keep a safe distance between the public and the seal'
Other residents leapt to the defence of the officers and praised them for protecting the seal from 'idiot visitors'
Harry Ryan added: 'When you gonna come give my mate a visit about someone breaking into his shed? Do some actual police work.'
Other commenters said it should be the responsibility of the Lulworth Estate, which owns the beach, to look after the seal, rather than the police.
Dave Sweetman asked, 'Why are the police doing this and not the Lulworth Estate? It is incumbent on them to ensure the safety of people and animals,' while Jac Williams added that it was a 'waste of already limited police resources.'
Meanwhile, Semaj Nagman suggested the police were being hypocritical by 'getting closer to the seal' than the public were allowed to.
He said: 'The police probably got closer than anyone else did just so the police officer could pose for that picture not much crime going on atm then.”
However, others leapt to the defence of the officers and praised them for protecting the seal from 'idiot visitors.'
Micky Scara said: 'Given how idiotically "visitors" behave in this very location, I am not at all surprised that the poor seal is in need of police protection. Keep up the good work Dorset Police Rural Crime Team.'
Julie-Anne Houldey said: 'Good. Saw the hideous video of hoards of people gathering around the seal.'
Durdle Door is a popular beach spot for many who want to enjoy a picturesque combination of rocky cliffs, sandy beaches and turquoise water
A local police force have faced backlash after officers were pictured covered in coloured paint dancing at the town's Holi Festival
British Divers Marine Life Rescue said the seal had been seen in the area since 2020 and should not be approached.
A spokesperson said: 'Large crowds of people can stress seals and they can give a nasty bite if they feel threatened.'
It was reported that 77 per cent of burglaries went unsolved in Dorset in the 2022/2023 financial year - an average of six per day.
It comes after another police force came under fire after officers were seen dancing while covered in coloured paint at a Holi Festival.
Swindon Police uploaded the video to its social media platform of the two on-duty officers dancing to music during the celebration, with coloured paint splattered all over their uniforms.
However, the video was soon deleted after frustrated locals began to question why they were dancing around and not doing what they considered to be their traditional jobs.
Dorset Police has been approached for further comment.
