KEY POINTS:
Senior Constable Rosscoe Lane inspects the latest damage to the Police launch Lady Elizabeth III, at Wellington yesterday. Police pray they won't have to carry out any sea rescues for the next week after a vandal armed with some sort of projectile shattered the window on their launch twice.
Crew turning up for work on Saturday morning found that a double-glazed window was damaged sometime between midnight and 10am. The same window, which is on the port side near the boat's radios, was attacked again on Saturday night.
Police believe someone shot something at it rather than threw something as the window is about 20m from the wharf.
The window could take up to a week to replace because the glazier may have to seek glass from another country. Senior Constable Andy Cox said other glass may be used but it wasn't very thick and could still jeopardise safety. Police would have to attempt to avoid heavy seas, he said.
The launch is used every three days on average, often towing stranded yachts in from Cook Strait, which could take more than 12 hours.
