A cutting-edge initiative to help tackle fisheries related crime has been launched by the Angling Trust in partnership with the Environment Agency.
‘Angling Alert’ is a web-based communication tool that will provide anglers and the wider public with information on fisheries crime quickly – by text or email.
Funded by rod licence income, Angling Alert signals a major step forward in crime prevention as, for the first time, the Angling Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service, the Environment Agency, police, National Wildlife Crime Unit and other partners can share relevant information with the public in one place.
Dilip Sarkar MBE, Angling Trust National Enforcement Manager, said:
“Angling Alert now provides an unprecedented opportunity for the EA, National Wildlife Crime Unit and police forces nationwide to communicate with the public – and most importantly is available in a multitude of languages.
“Our Fisheries Enforcement Support Service, which includes the Voluntary Bailiff Service, will be working closely with our partners to make this an effective system. The network extends nationally, so there is great scope for this to help anglers across the UK.
“There is also an issue with fishing tackle theft and burglaries at tackle shops and fisheries, so Angling Alert can also be used to share details regarding these offences and patterns, and on occasion suspects.”
Chief Inspector Martin Sims, Head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, said:
“This is innovative and also provides a unique opportunity to communicate information concerning wildlife crime generally on a national basis. It is all about working together and any technological tool that helps in this process should really be welcomed’.
Sarah Chare, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency, said:
“Our Fisheries Enforcement successes rely heavily on information received from anglers. Angling Alert is a fast way to let anglers know when we need specific intelligence on licence cheats and illegal fishing.
“This initiative has been made possible by our rod licence funded partnership with the Angling Trust, and I urge anyone interested in tackling fisheries crime to sign up.”
Angling Alert is hosted by web company Visav, providers of a number of crime awareness systems including the highly successful ‘Rural Alert’ endorsed by Neighbourhood Watch, Crimestoppers and the police. Subscribers to Angling Alert can filter information to be entirely relevant to their location or interests, and can also access other alert systems from the one site. It is not a tool for reporting incidents in progress which must be reported to the Agency on 0800 80 70 60, or, if concerning a crime, the police on 101 or 999 as appropriate.
Angling Alert is a free service – to sign up click here
