vigilanties

redfin123 · Mar 29, 2012

I heard it from a reliable source that a group of lads/anglers are forming groups to patrol stretches of river at night that are being targeted by undesirable people that are taking bucket loads of prime fish and leaving mountains of rubbish on the banks. The guy i spoke to said we are ****** off with this situation and it has gone on long enough, we have no confidence in the river authorities and the police they just dont want to know. we have been organising this since last year and have got a big following, so now its pay back arse kicking time. we will be taking no prisoners, the venues will be texted to group leaders on the same day to get maximum secrecy . well there you have it, its the best news ive heard for some time. good luck to the lads. viligence to save our fish.

Paul Boote · Mar 29, 2012

Vigilantes (let's spell it correctly if we're going to use the word), potentially very dangerous territory, chaps.

Remember the outraged citizens of some British town some years ago who, having read a tabloid article about paedophiles ("Name and shame your local one..."), marched on the home of a local PAEDIATRICIAN (a doctor specialising in the treatment of children, possibly their own if they were to fall ill) and tried to run him out of town?

As Dirty Harry Callaghan or Charles Death Wish Bronson in their movies did NOT ask themselves, Where does this all stop?

At an angler who doesn't use an unhooking mat? Who puts barbel in a keepnet? Anyone who displeases you in the least way?

Dangerous territory.

maceo · Mar 29, 2012

I agree entirely Paul.

People can't take the law into their own hands. Anything can happen when mobs form.

Simon K · Mar 29, 2012

Paul Boote said:
Vigilantes (let's spell it correctly if we're going to use the word), potentially very dangerous territory, chaps.

Remember the outraged citizens of some British town some years ago who, having read a tabloid article about paedophiles ("Name and shame your local one..."), marched on the home of a local PAEDIATRICIAN (a doctor specialising in the treatment of children, possibly their own if they were to fall ill) and tried to run him out of town?

As Dirty Harry Callaghan or Charles Death Wish Bronson in their movies did NOT ask themselves, Where does this all stop?

At an angler who doesn't use an unhooking mat? Who puts barbel in a keepnet? Anyone who displeases you in the least way?

Dangerous territory.

Wise words.

No good can come of it.

Put it in the hands of Club bailiffs, EA, police. Make some examples through the proper channels and it will almost certainly stop.

geoffmaynard · Mar 29, 2012

Although I don't condone it either, I do wonder what it would take for us to change our minds and join forces with these guys.
Given that their excuse/reasoning is true, not that much I suspect.

tuolumne fisher · Mar 30, 2012

when the authorities charged with protecting us and our possessions, fail to do so continually, what other course of action is there
a threat of violence or the act itself, brings blue lights from every direction, by all means rally together, but obviously be very careful how you proceed, attempting to make a citizens arrest will inflame the situation, but if there is more of you than them, then your version of the events, will carry more weight when the blue lights arrive
maybe get pics of the culprits and their cars, then put 'em on line, local tackle shops and venues

good on ya all for pulling together

mark brailsford 2 · Mar 30, 2012

who's daft idea was this?
I am a special constable of 12 years standing so I know what I am talking about here. absolutely no good will come of this if the bobbies turn up, the goodies will be the baddies in the laws eyes! Also are these folk they are targeting from eastern Europe by any chance? that would come under the very serious offence of a racist attack!
Best to nip this in the bud now before any permanent damage is done...Who want's to have a criminal record for the rest of there life...Or have these guy's already got one?

Mark

Ray Roberts · Mar 30, 2012

If the guys doing the patrolling are doing so with the blessing of the owners/club and it is their intention to hand over lawbreakers to the authorities then surely that is bailiffing.

If their intention is just to give them a good kicking, then that's a bit different.

rubio · Mar 30, 2012

Sounds to me like something that could be done well and to great benefit. Why assume the worst? Continually amazes me how many negative stances are adopted by anglers. Surely anglers need to be amongst the most ambitious and hopeful of people othewise dangling a size 16 in thousands of cubic litres would never happen.
Stop reding the Daily Mail I say.

Paul Boote · Mar 30, 2012

BBC News - 'Ninja' patrols streets of Yeovil

tigger · Mar 30, 2012

If something needs doing and no one in authority will then I don't blame them....good luck to em !

cg74 · Mar 30, 2012

Paul Boote said:
BBC News - 'Ninja' patrols streets of Yeovil

Nah, if you're going to make an ass of yourself, go the whole hog: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKL0mHHnaS8]Real life superhero on this morning - YouTube[/ame]

Paul Boote · Mar 30, 2012

1987 ... Robocop ... fun movie, but...

[ame=http://youtu.be/g1BKtF1cJug]Robocop Trailer - YouTube[/ame]

bennygesserit · Mar 30, 2012

tigger said:
If something needs doing and no one in authority will then I don't blame them....good luck to em !

Isn't that the key though ? Those in authority have been trained and sanctioned by law.

The pike by me are regularly taken by English either because they don't want pike in the canal or to eat, came across a ginger haired lad only a couple of days ago with a 5lb pike in a shopping bag while I was walking my dogs. I assumed he was British because he looked it.

I have heard of one EE being set upon even though he was fishing legally , but then again I have now seen EEs taking fish or saying they are going to take fish about 5 times which is around the same number of British people I have seen doing it - either to eat the pike or to take roach to use as livebait somewhere else.

If these vigilanties are prepared to undergo the correct training and in effect become volunteer baliffs then good luck to them.

alan whittington · Mar 30, 2012

The law states that no fish should be taken from the water and the police do not enforce it,i dont know what else anglers options are,keep demanding stricter penalties,or be the same old,same old apathetic bunch of fools we've always been.

waggy · Mar 30, 2012

Perhaps the thread title or the common understanding of it is a problem for some people here:
A Vigilante is someone who watches for potential danger, not someone who necessarily takes any sort of direct action.
If it is the intention of our 'Vigilantes' to check rod licences, angling permits, gear conformity, etc, then there's nothing wrong with that if they want to risk their necks in doing so. The obvious next step on discovering any infringement of the Law or club rules would be to call the Police, since they should be your port of call in handling all legal affairs.
The fact that they intend to be vigilant in groups (safety in numbers) is by the by and probably advisable providing they don't start any trouble themselves.
Self defence is another issue and they should think very carefully about what effective methods of defence and restraint they intend to use.
They should certainly use some form of incident visual/sound recording to back up any resultant court action and as a defence against wrongful accusations against themselves.
It should be decided beforehand who, in the group, is best fitted to do the talking, the presence of the rest sufficing to encourage compliance with reasonable requests and lessen the likelihood of aggressive responses.

mark brailsford 2 · Mar 30, 2012

Do you lot realise that by agreeing with this stuff on an open public forum you are actually breaking the law by inciting a public disorder...YES, that's what it is!!!

Mark

redfin123 · Mar 30, 2012

waggy said:
Perhaps the thread title or the common understanding of it is a problem for some people here:
A Vigilante is someone who watches for potential danger, not someone who necessarily takes any sort of direct action.
If it is the intention of our 'Vigilantes' to check rod licences, angling permits, gear conformity, etc, then there's nothing wrong with that if they want to risk their necks in doing so. The obvious next step on discovering any infringement of the Law or club rules would be to call the Police, since they should be your port of call in handling all legal affairs.
The fact that they intend to be vigilant in groups (safety in numbers) is by the by and probably advisable providing they don't start any trouble themselves.
Self defence is another issue and they should think very carefully about what effective methods of defence and restraint they intend to use.
They should certainly use some form of incident visual/sound recording to back up any resultant court action and as a defence against wrongful accusations against themselves.
It should be decided beforehand who, in the group, is best fitted to do the talking, the presence of the rest sufficing to encourage compliance with reasonable requests and lessen the likelihood of aggressive responses.

I presume thats what the idea is, patroling the banks in groups checking permits and licences and making sure that no one is poaching or breaking the fishery rules. I dont think for the life of me that they will be brandishing guns or base ball bats, i think they have got more sense than that. The fact is the fish are being taken not in 2s and 3s but in bucket loads. One bailiff on his own is not worth the pea nuts he is paid. I regulary fish the trent at dunham bridge and the bailiff there is 68 years old, he has told me that he is afraid to approach these undesireables for there day tickets because he just gets a load of abuse. he says i only do the job because no one else wants the job. may be it will take some action like this to make those in authority sit up and do something about it because if they dont at the rate the fish are being taken from the rivers and canals there will be nowt worth fishing for FACT.

simon dunbar · Mar 30, 2012

Vigilanties or Vigilantes .....we're a lot softer here in the South of England we have groups of Vigil Aunties roaming the banks , if they find undesirable,litter dropping anglers they knit them horrible cardigans.....

Plenty of so called 'responsible ' anglers leave litter on the banks ...how do these mobs decide who to punish ..?

beerweasel · Mar 30, 2012

Perhaps "vigilantes" is the wrong name as it conjures up an image of hooded
cross burning 357 magnum brandishing rednecks.
How about Carp Conservators,Fish Wardens,Lake Rangers or Pisces Protectors ?
We have to do something, as long as it's legal.

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