Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire angler Nick Hancock, star of the humorous sportsquiz show ‘They think it’s all over’, was prosecuted for fishingwithout a valid rod licence. Hancock pleaded guilty at the Staffordmagistrates court earlier this month and was fined £40 with£55 costs.
He was caught without a licence whilst fishing for trout onHanchurch Pools, Newcastle-u-Lyme.
Tony Page of Cliffs End, Ramsgate was unable to produce a validrod licence after being challenged by Agency officers who had viewedhim fishing at Friends Lake, Betteshanger. Mr Page appeared in courtto plead guilty to fishing illegally, he was fined £25 and costsof £50 were awarded against him.
Margate angler Andrew Moore had been seen fishing at Rope Walk,Sandwich by Agency officers and was also unable to produce a validrod licence when asked. Mr Moore pleaded guilty to fishing illegallyby post and was fined £25 with costs of £50 awarded againsthim.
Jim Roden, from the Agency’s Legal Team said, “Fishing without arod licence really is a false economy – you will get caught – it’sthat simple.
“This has been an ongoing Agency activity for some time, this isnot a short-term campaign – don’t feel safe just because you haven’tbeen caught before. There are inspectors patrolling riverbanksthroughout Kent on all days of the week and at different times of theday and night.
“There really is no excuse for not having a licence, they are easyto obtain from post-offices, over the telephone on 0870 1662662 or byusing the Agency’s website www.environment-agency.gov.uk.Since a full non-migratory rod licence costs just £20 for ayear, and with a junior licence costing just £5, it is simplynot worth taking the risk.
“Last year the Agency prosecuted 418 individuals from the SouthernRegion – 375 were found guilty of fishing illegally. For each ofthese people fines and costs totalled an average of around £115.
“If a person is caught fishing without a licence within Kent theycan expect their dishonesty to cost around five times the value of anon-migratory rod licence -can running the risk of heavy penaltiesreally be justified for the sake of six pence a day?”
