Police Warn Parents as Children Play on Live Cornwall Power Boxes
Why the Bugle Substation Matters to Our Village
Bugle is one of those villages where everyone knows the footpaths, the open ground and the quiet corners where children head after school. Tucked among the homes and fields are the electricity substations that keep our lights on, heat our kitchens and power the local businesses that depend on a steady supply. Most of us walk past them without a second thought, which is exactly why this warning from St Austell Police matters so much.
Substations look like harmless grey boxes or compounds, but they hold live high-voltage equipment that can kill instantly. Police have received reports of young people climbing onto the roofs. These roofs are made of fibreglass, not solid concrete, and a person standing or walking on one can break through. The danger is not just the fall itself. Anyone who lands inside the enclosure can come into contact with live electrical equipment, and that can be fatal.
For a small community like ours, a single serious incident would do more than cause heartbreak for one family. It would bring emergency crews into a residential area, could disrupt local power and leave neighbours without supply, and would leave a lasting scar on a village that looks out for its own. Understanding why these spaces are off limits is the first step to keeping everyone safe.
Parents, Police and the Power Network Involved
The warning came from St Austell Police, who posted on Facebook asking parents and guardians to take responsibility for knowing where their children are playing. Their message was direct: the risk of injury and electrocution is real, and it is the adults who can make the biggest difference by discouraging children from going near substations at all. Officers are not trying to criminalise curiosity. They are trying to stop a tragedy before it happens.
Substations in this part of Cornwall are operated by the local electricity distribution network, which maintains the equipment and the security of the sites. Engineers rely on these enclosures being kept closed and undisturbed, and any damage to a roof or fence can create new hazards for the public and for the workers who must repair them. Unauthorised access can also delay essential maintenance.
The people most directly affected are the families of the young people involved, who face the possibility of a sudden and devastating loss. Neighbours living near the sites are also affected, as they are often the first to hear noises or see children gathering. Local businesses and households rely on uninterrupted supply, so any outage caused by damage would be felt across the wider area. Everyone has a stake in getting this message across.
What Residents Can Do Now and What to Watch
The most powerful action is a conversation at home. Ask children where they go after school and at weekends, and explain clearly why substations are dangerous, using simple language they will remember. Children are often drawn to these spaces because they look like interesting places to explore, so make sure they know the difference between a playground and a live electrical site. If you spot young people on a substation, do not approach or try to pull them down yourself. Call the police on 101 to report it, or call 999 immediately if anyone is hurt or in danger.
If you notice damage to a fence, a broken roof panel, or an open gate, report it to the power network’s emergency line on 105, which is free to call in the UK. Reporting early can prevent accidents and helps engineers respond before someone gets hurt. Keep an eye on local updates from St Austell Police, whose Facebook page is the best source for any new reports or patrols in the area.
This matters beyond Bugle too. If you are planning to go to Newquay this summer with children in tow, remember that the same rule applies anywhere you travel: keep young people away from fenced electrical compounds, however tempting they look. Share this warning with friends, neighbours and family groups, because a quick message today could keep a child safe tomorrow.
Source: Kids are risking electrocution by playing on live power boxes
