The Angling Trust and Environment Agency partnership has now made possible the keenly anticipated national roll-out of the Voluntary Bailiff Service, following a pilot project in the South East.
The North East was the fifth Voluntary Bailiff Service region to go ‘live’ on Saturday, March 5th. The region includes Northumberland, Durham, Cleveland and all of Yorkshire with 28 successful applicants attending the inaugural mandatory induction day held in Darlington.The event was jointly hosted by Angling Trust North East Regional Enforcement Manager Giles Evans, a retired Northumberland Police officer, and Environment Agency Voluntary Bailiff Service Project Manager Adrian Brightley.
Giles Evans said: “This was a historic day for angling in the region with 28 volunteers offering their support to assist the Environment Agency and the police in tackling fisheries-related crime and other linked crimes.
“The feedback from the day has been excellent. This is a new initiative for the region and we already have more volunteers ready to join the next induction to be held later in the year.”
The event was attended and supported by the Environment Agency together with police officers from Northumbria Police.
Induction Day for the Voluntary Bailiff Service in the North East, held in Darlington.
Pc Colin Heath, a National Wildlife Crime Officer from Northumbria Police, said: “It was great to attend and raise awareness amongst the volunteers of rural, wildlife and linked crimes. I am extremely pleased the Voluntary Bailiff Service is now up and running in the region and this will see us share the information and intelligence gained and further forge our success with the Environment Agency and other partners.”
Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officer Kevin Summerson contributed to training at the induction and said: “The EA welcomes the opportunity to work with enthusiastic volunteers to help us in our continuing crackdown on illegal fishing and those that cheat angling. We take illegal fishing very seriously and the Volunteer Bailiff Service can only help continue the great success we have had in the region.”
Angling Trust National Enforcement Manager Dilip Sarkar MBE said: “Protecting fish and fisheries is surely important to all anglers and it is great to see freshwater rod licence income being constructively spent in this way.
“Some find it hard to understand why Phase 1 Volunteer Bailiffs have no power – this is because Phase 1 volunteers fulfil a crucial role in reporting information and evidence for the police and Environment Agency to act upon. This is because the entire system is “intelligence-led” – meaning that such reports, and those from anglers and the wider public, are absolutely essential.
“Our volunteers are trained to make reports to a high evidential standard, and help raise awareness. Policing methods have changed, so to properly support the Environment Agency in particular, we have to respond to this.”
Sarah Chare, Deputy Director for Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology at the Environment Agency said: “I really welcome our partnership with the Angling Trust volunteers, which is funded entirely by anglers’ rod licence fees, and the support given by the police. This will make a huge contribution to our efforts to reduce illegal fishing and rod licence evasion.”
By March 12th, similar inductions will have been held in all six regions across England – meaning that Operation Clamp Down 4, the annual multi-agency initiative focussing on illegal fishing during the coarse close season, will be a national operation for the first time.
More info:
Further information on the Voluntary Bailiff Service here
Further information on the North East Induction Day from Giles Evans, North East Regional Enforcement Manager: giles.evans@anglingtrust.net 07495 433619
Angling Trust
The Angling Trust is the national representative and governing body for angling in England. It is united in a collaborative relationship with Fish Legal, a separate membership association using the law to protect fish stocks and the rights of its members throughout the UK. Joint membership packages with Fish Legal are available for individuals, clubs, fisheries and other categories.
Find out all about the Angling Trust and its work at www.anglingtrust.net or call us on 01568 620447
