Jeff Woodhouse
Moaning Marlow Meldrew
In our Association, bailiffs get a free card by dent of the fact they have a bailiff card, but that just saves them a few quid, £5-£10 perhaps. Furthermore, they receive a honorarium of £100 to help cover the cost of fuel etc, when visiting the waters they patrol. Not only that, but they also get to keep all the day ticket money they collect since all of our waters are accessible to the public. One of them uses that money to keep his dog well fed along with eating the ones that won't pay for a day ticket.
The word 'Bailiff', though, is incorrect and inappropriate. They should be termed 'Water Warden' or 'Club Warden' since the term Bailiff has a legal means and club bailiffs have no legal rights whatsoever other than what every other citizen has. Everyone in the club has the right, on production of his card, to view the membership card of another member. Beyond that, members and club wardens can do no more other than report an incident to the committee or if they are absolutely certain the person has no right to be fishing, call the police and report the act of Theft of fishing rights. Not that they'll do anything much unless you are being threatened with violence.
The word 'Bailiff', though, is incorrect and inappropriate. They should be termed 'Water Warden' or 'Club Warden' since the term Bailiff has a legal means and club bailiffs have no legal rights whatsoever other than what every other citizen has. Everyone in the club has the right, on production of his card, to view the membership card of another member. Beyond that, members and club wardens can do no more other than report an incident to the committee or if they are absolutely certain the person has no right to be fishing, call the police and report the act of Theft of fishing rights. Not that they'll do anything much unless you are being threatened with violence.