“The Angling Trust has won support from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to ensure that all Chief Officers in England and Wales will receive training about poaching and fish theft, and pass this on to their operational staff.  The National Policing Lead for Wildlife & Rural Crime, Simon Prince (Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys), one of the most senior police officers in the country, has given his backing to the initiative which will ensure that the police respond properly to reports of poaching and fish theft.

To date, anglers have been frustrated when reporting criminal offences connected with poaching and fish theft to the police due to confusion amongst call-handlers and operational police officers who have not been aware of their duties and responsibilities in this area.

Retired police officer and Angling Trust National Enforcement Manager Dilip Sarkar MBE has been working to address this issue with the National Wildlife Crime Unit and individual forces over the past two years”.

Source: Angling Trust

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