Source: Environment Agency
Environment Agency Officers do not ask for payment or on-the-spot fines and genuine Fisheries Enforcement Officer will not take money on the bank side, or ask for money to be sent to them at a later date.
If approached by a person purporting to be an Environment Agency Bailiff or Fisheries Enforcement Officer, members of the public should ask the person for their name and ask to see their warrant card.
All genuine Environment Agency enforcement staff will carry a warrant card with them at all times. The photograph on the card should match the individual and the member of the public should if possible make a note of the serial number.
If an angler is unable to produce a valid rod licence an officer would issue an offence report form. This is the first step of a very carefully considered legal process. If this then results in prosecution the court impose and recover the appropriate level of fine.
Darren Bedworth, Fisheries and Biodiversity Team Leader, said:
“Our Fisheries Enforcement Officers will never ask for on-the-spot fines so this is an obvious sign that it is a bogus official. The correct protocol is for a suspected offender to be given an offence report form.
It is very rare that somebody would pose as a bailiff and we take this crime very seriously. All Environment Agency bailiffs will happily show their warrant card on request”.
Anyone with concerns about suspicious activity is asked to contact the Environment Agency 24-hour incident hotline number 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
