a few more details folks
these illegally moored boats, refered to by some as the scroat boats, first came to the authorities attention in 2008, numerous organisations and councils have been inept in dealing with the problem
the EA have been negligent in their issuance of licenses under the relevant 1995 act, section 17, this has resulted in a loss of amenity for anglers
in a nutshell, after 4 years you now have over 40 vessels moored illegally, their waste and ablutions are presumably dumped in the river, the banks are littered with any number of restoration materials, and two barges, converted on site for habitation, are used as cheap overnight accomodation, various police raids have resulted in arrests for drug dealing and firearm possession, and lest not forget they pay no council tax
if you're living in a metal can because you are down trodden in life, then some sympathy is fair enough, but if you work in the city, wear a suit, drive a new german car, mow the grass and apply dog detterent chemicals adjacent to your illegal mooring, then you are poncing of society, and the authorites should deal wiv 'em, not an individual angler