The UK government has reversed proposed changes that would have stopped paying volunteer coastguard staff for attending emergencies, following backlash from coastal communities and volunteers who warned the move would undermine search and rescue efforts around Britain's coastline. Volunteer coastguard rescue officers, who respond to incidents such as cliff rescues, missing persons and coastal emergencies, had been due to lose the small payments they receive for turning out to calls, prompting concern that the change could deter people from volunteering or force some to leave the service altogether.

Campaigners and coastal MPs had argued that removing the payments, which typically supplement volunteers' unpaid commitment, showed a lack of understanding of how reliant remote and coastal areas are on this workforce. The government's decision to scrap the plans has been welcomed as a "major win" by those who campaigned against it, with coastguard volunteers and community representatives saying it protects the viability of a service that many areas depend on for emergency response.