Examination of Witnesses (Questions 100
- 105)
THURSDAY 13 MAY 2004
DR DAVID
KING, MR
GODFREY WILLIAMS
AND MR
ARWYN JONES
Q100 Mrs Clark: They do take these
crimes as "real" crimes and do not think it is just
something to do with the environment and therefore not really
a crime.
Dr King: No. As I pointed out
earlier, quite often when you are dealing with poaching on a commercial
scale, the individuals involved are often involved in other crime.
Q101 Mrs Clark: What about regional
variations in terms of police forces? Are some really more in
tune than others?
Dr King: I suspect that when you
look across the country there will be variations. Obviously, where
we have a lot of enforcement activity, there is a degree of consistency.
Mr Jones: There are two levels
in which we interact with the police service. One is at a very
tactical level where our local field officers forge very strong
links with local police and other agencies; and by and large they
work very well. But that is framed by a memorandum of understanding
that we have with ACPO, the Association of Chief Police Officers,
which sets out the framework by which we will interact with the
police service, and that has been very beneficial. There are some
variations in how we do the work with some police forces, but
we now have a very strong link through the Chief Constable of
North Wales, who has the ACPO lead on environmental crime, and
I have met him several times over the last 12 months. We are looking
at how to review that and strengthen the crime element within
that.
Q102 Mrs Clark: You have singled
out in your memorandum the Durham Constabulary and a fascinating
strategy of theirs called Get Hooked on Fishing, which sounds
very appropriate. You are saying that what is good about them
is that they are working with you to prevent offences and to promote
social inclusion and good behaviour. Would you like to say more
about that?
Dr King: It is a phenomenal success.
Mr Williams: We have singled out
that particular one because it is so good, but I would like to
support the police in saying that is spreading. I think they have
forged an example of best practice, which is now being picked
up in other places. In essence, the idea did come from Durham
Constabulary, and it now involves a partnership that involves
us and local authorities and angling organisations. It is looking
at identifying those youngsters in a locality who potentially
are vulnerable to getting involved in crime, and then providing
the opportunity to engage in a programme of fishing development,
something that is of interest to them getting out in the countryside
and enjoying angling and so on.
Q103 Mrs Clark: It seems to happen
in these deprived areas.
Mr Williams: Yes, and they have
had an extremely good success rate. Every youngster that has been
through their programme has not re-offended, and whilst you would
not expect all of them not to re-offend, you would think some
of them might do.
Q104 Mrs Clark: Can you send that
to us?
Mr Williams: Certainly. I have
quite a lot more material on that. There is an example from there
of one youngster who had failed at school who subsequently won
the Young Angling Journalist of the Year Award by becoming involved
in that initiative. That is a very good example of trying to move
people away from the opportunity before they start.
Q105 Mrs Clark: We have not talked
very much about local authorities. Do you think they are fully
up to the mark? Are they properly engaged in the work with you,
and again are there any that you would single out for praise?
Dr King: You have got to look
at the different component parts of the fishery story. We do have
good co-operation with local authorities, and just like the police
we have a memorandum of understanding that underpins the co-operation
with local authorities across a wide range of activities. There
are a number of local protocols in support of that, fly-tipping
being one of them, although there is not one on fisheries. At
a local level we have had good co-operation. There is an example
in the pack of an elver fishery in the Severn, which again is
quite a valuable fishery and highly susceptible to poaching, and
where there is good co-operation between the Agency, British Waterways
and Gloucester County Council. On the marine side there is co-operation
there through the sea fisheries committees.
Chairman: Thank you. That has been very
helpful and we are grateful to you for coming along.
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