Special Bailiff Scheme launched to help stamp out fish theft

Special Bailiff Scheme launched to help stamp out fish theft

Research shows that fish theft and illegal fishing are the two biggest concerns for today's angler.

By joining the Angling Trust and Environment Agency "Special Bailiff Scheme" anglers can help stamp out fish theft on rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries helping to preserve fisheries for generations to come.

The Angling Trust and Environment Agency are running a three year pilot in the Environment Agency South East Region to prove the effectiveness of well trained volunteers in acting as a back up to full time Environment Agency bailiffs in their difficult task of policing our fisheries.

Volunteers in the South East are invited to apply now for this opportunity to make a difference.

The Angling Trust is initially looking for twelve volunteers in each of the four areas within Environment Agency South East, forty-eight in total, to work as part of the Angling Trust Team. Volunteers will be subject to a CRB check and will be expected to undergo a training course. They will then work in conjunction with the Environment Agency Team of Enforcement Officers delivering information on illegal activity and in the first year prove themselves capable of monitoring and reporting activities on rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries in their local area, not just on their own club or syndicate waters.

After the first year some volunteers will be offered the opportunity to train for a Management Restricted Environment Agency Bailiff Warrant so that they can extend their duties into licence checking and byelaw offences and take an active role working alongside operational Agency bailiffs in the field. In this role they will be representing both the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency. To be eligible, volunteers will undergo an enhanced CRB check and will have special training to give them the skills needed when dealing with the public in what can be difficult circumstances.

During this period the Angling Trust will be recruiting further monitoring and reporting volunteers to act as eyes and ears and to provide the intelligence to guide the activities of the highly trained Environment Agency bailiffs and voluntary Special Bailiffs.

In year three, some Special Bailiffs will be offered the chance to become fully warranted Environment Agency Volunteer Bailiffs, working independently when licence checking and able to assist full time officers in active operations to apprehend fish thieves and others breaking national fishery byelaws.

Volunteers will be expected to offer an average of four hours a week to the scheme and will be in the vanguard of what the Angling Trust hope to develop into a fully equipped national team of volunteer bailiffs, much like Police Special Constables, working alongside full time Environment Agency Bailiffs who will be responsible for managing volunteer efforts. Applicants will work in the evenings and at weekends as well as during the day.

Volunteers will need to be reasonably fit and able to demonstrate good interpersonal skills, show the ability to write clear and concise reports, keep accurate notebook records and timesheets and have an intimate knowledge of the waters in their area as well as having a full driving licence and being able to swim. This is an Angling Trust initiative and applicants will need to be a member of the Angling Trust to receive insurance cover.

For an application pack contact the Angling Trust on 0844 7700616 (Option 1) or email bailiffs@anglingtrust.net

To join the Angling Trust call 0844 7700616 (Option 1) or go to www.anglingtrust.net

Notes to Editors:
Environment Agency South East consists of the following counties; Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, part of Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, part of Wiltshire and part of Gloucestershire see the map attached.

The Angling Trust is the representative body for angling in England. It was established in 2009 and is now growing rapidly. It has a wide range of programmes and campaigns which deliver better angling and fisheries for coarse, game and sea anglers. It takes legal action against polluters and others who damage its members' waters through its legal arm, Fish Legal.

The Environment Agency is the biggest and most wide-ranging environmental regulator in Europe. Its work includes:

1. Reducing the risk of flooding and helping to protect people and places;

2. Helping businesses to make sure they don't harm the environment through pollution or by taking too much water. It issues licenses and permits, and takes action against those who don't take their environmental responsibilities seriously;

3. Improving the environment for people and wildlife. It helps people get the most out of their environment, including boaters and anglers.

4. Influencing and working with government, industry and local authorities to make the environment a priority.

For further information on this press release please contact;

Mike Heylin
01442 255862
07836 718187
mike.heylin@anglingtrust.net



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Here it is lads, we've been arguing about this (constructively!) amongst ourselves on and off all year, should we police it ourselves, what authority would we have if we did it, how legit is that, would it end up in a fight, some would want to do it, some wouldn't be comfortable with the idea, and so on.
Now here is a properly organised approach to solving the problem from our national body, offering proper training and checks and authority; If you are an Angling Trust member and have the time and inclination to do this, do not hesitate another moment, get yourself signed up!

Spot on mate, here is your chance

I am going to do it

Dont call, email bailiffs@anglingtrust.net

About time too , a brilliant initiative and for anyone wanting to work in law enforcement, this would only help your CV.

I am not going to sign up myself for a number of reasons, mainly that there are a limited number of places and I do not get out and about enough to offer the commitment that it requires, and I do not think I am particularly well suited to that kind of role, it requires a certain type of personality and probably physical stature which I do not have. But I am joining the Angling Trust right now to show support.

just sent me invite off

Nice one mate

to any one that has applied, have you had a reply yet

Friday 17th May 2013
Project Update: The Angling Trust’s Fight Against Poaching & Fish Theft

In the past two months the Angling Trust's Voluntary Bailiff Service (VBS) has gathered momentum. It started as a small pilot project in the South East of England, but it is now growing very rapidly and chalking up a number of successes in the battle against poaching and other illegal activity on the banks. A very wide range of people have volunteered their time to work alongside paid Environment Agency staff.

Discussions are now underway with the Environment Agency about rolling out the VBS to the rest of the country. Any members interested in applying to become a Volunteer Bailiff should in the first instance email their full name, date of birth, address and contact numbers to bailiffs@anglingtrust.net. Your details will then be added to our database - we'll be in touch immediately recruiting starts in your area.

We are now investigating how sea anglers can become involved with the VBS to gather intelligence about illegal netting. The Environment Agency is working with the Angling Trust to train volunteers in pollution reporting and monitoring flood defences. The VBS is not just about poaching - it's about making the most of the role that we anglers play as the eyes and ears of the bank & beach.

Our Fisheries Enforcement Manager, Dilip Sarkar MBE, is working closely with the police. Dilip sits on the national Poaching Priority Group, along with other organisations like the Wildlife Crime Unit. The Angling Trust is also represented on the Defra backed, Poaching & Wildlife Partnership, and the SE-based Poaching & Fishery Crime Group - the latter working with the Metropolitan Police on Project Ghillie, a crack-down on crime and anti-social behaviour on London's waterways.

It is absolutely crucial that all anglers report incidents and information concerning poaching to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60. Fish theft is a criminal offence and must be reported to the police. The importance of reporting incidents and information cannot be over emphasised - the system will only work if we anglers provide the necessary information. Ask the Environment Agency to keep you informed about progress following your report. If you don't hear back from them, please let us know.

For further information about the 'VBS', or any other matters related to fishery enforcement, please contact dilip.sarkar@anglingtrust.net

A full update on the VBS is now available on our website: www.anglingtrust.net/vbs

Please support the Angling Trust - forward this email onto a friend and encourage them to join the Angling Trust to support our work on this and other projects - click HERE

Special Bailiff Scheme launched to help stamp out fish theft
If EA and Police cannot be bothered How on earth do they expect voluntary bailiffs to do it ??

Because the volunteers will be people who actually care (I hope!) - it is the Angling Trust pushing this scheme

The EA care too Ed, but as we're aware, they don't have the man power to police the banks as effectively as they'd wish. With the voluntary bailiffs there will be many more 'officials' able to assist in the effective implementation of the byelaws.

This can only be a good thing in my eyes Andrzej.


Richard

The Special Bailiff Scheme is working, but will take a year or 2 to get up and running properly, they are looking for more volunteers, as it stands at the moment, I am the only one Runnymede doing it. I go out and reguely look at 4 rivers, in Runnymede, I could do with some help,

Richard Crimp wrote:

The EA care too Ed, but as we're aware, they don't have the man power to police the banks as effectively as they'd wish.

Yes I know, the EA fisheries people are a great bunch who care passionately about what they do. I was being a bit harsh, thinking in more general terms about the people who decide what resources EA fisheries will get.

Keith (if it ain't a secret ) can you explain how it works ?Anglers all over UK report incidents , yet authorities fail to act time after time how you ( voluntary bailiff )are going to solve the problem still puzzles me

I hope this works because people like you are going to put lots of time and effort (without pay as I understand) into this scheme while others will still be taking their salaries.

give you the ins and out sunday , busy at moment

keith