NEW BAILIFFING ORGANISATION FISHERY WATCH

New Bailiffing Organisation Fishery Watch

A new organisation aiming to form a nationwide network of voluntary bailiffs has been inundated with enquiries during its first week. With an objective to fight fishery crime, Fishery Watch has been started 

by Adrian Lane, who until recently was the Gloucestershire region's co-ordinator for the Voluntary Bailiff Service, run by the Angling Trust. The VBS already has over 500 bailiffs across the country, and is actively expanding, which begs the question: is there room for two organisations? Adrian thinks so.

He explained: "We have already managed to appoint area coordinators in Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, North Somerset, Suffolk, Dorset, Worcestershire, Essex and Norfolk, and it is growing fast, with enquiries every day.”We will be going about things with a more hands-on approach, allowing trained water bailiffs to patrol in plain clothes. "We will assist clubs and fisheries that are having issues with fishery crime and, unlike the VBS, our groups will also be able to patrol at night, which is when a lot of fishery crime happens and goes unnoticed. 

​Our motto is 'Anglers Protecting Angling: as that is exactly what we are doing. There are certain powers under Schedule 1 of the Theft Act 1968 that empower citizens to detain an offender until Police arrive, and we will use those powers in a proper and legal manner when necessary, and when it is safe to do so. "We will not be insisting that bailiffs use the power that the Theft Act allows. It all depends on whether they feel safe and competent to do so, and also whether the situation is serious enough to require action.

“It is growing fast, with enquiries every day.” Adrian Lane

"Training will be done online to start with, using the latest software, and we will develop a course and exam for our water bailiffs. “We will also be monitoring the state of local rivers and canals, and if necessary we will arrange work parties to remove litter and improve the environment. 

"The organisation will be run by a management committee, all of them volunteers, as nobody will take a salary. We do not ask for membership fees, and we will be looking to the angling trade for sponsorship, to cover basic running costs, such as insurance and stationery, which should be very little when compared to the massive costs that some organisations have to cover. "Everything we do will be in a safe and legal manner. We want to be seen as a friendly service to angling, one that will help anglers, clubs and fisheries to preserve the future of our great sport.

"We intend to officially launch the scheme on Monday 6th January 2019, but our water bailiffs will be out on the banks beforehand, letting anglers know all about the service and getting fisheries on board. We will help any angling organisation that needs us, provided we have a team in the area. "We currently have voluntary positions available for water bailiffs and area co-ordinators nationwide. It is all voluntary, and you will have no commitment to how many hours you put in.

You will be trained and valued as a volunteer, so come and join us," Adrian requested. Dilip Sarkar, national enforcement manager of the Fisheries Enforcement Support Service, commented: "We at the Angling Trust welcome any initiative that is joining the fight against fishery crime and helping to protect fish and fisheries. Further information can be obtained from Adrian Lane, by calling him on 07704 931159, emailing [email protected] or by visiting www.fisherywatch.co.uk

Source: Anglers Mail