The primary force guarding the nation's waterways is provided by the Fisheries Enforcement Support Service. It's run by the Angling Trust, funded by the Environment Agency, and puts 500 well-trained volunteers out on the banks. National enforcement manager of FESS, formerly called the Voluntary Bailiff Service, Dilip Sarkar, is now retiring, aged 59, after eight years in the job, and believes that he is leaving it in excellent shape for his successor. |
"Then there was little awareness of rural crime, poor knowledge of the laws relating to fishing in both the angling community and in the criminal justice system, there was no intelligence gathering and no partnership working.
"We have managed to change all this and created a system that works, in partnership with the Police and the EA.
"We could double the number of volunteers we employ, but we are
restricted to 500 by the contract with the EA.
"I feel that I have taken the scheme as far as I can go. It has been a challenging and stressful eight years, and I'm now looking forward to focussing full-time on my role as an author;" Dilip added.