Anglers? Fury with Derisory Sentencing of Poachers

"Two of the group were subsequently convicted at Central South and West Norfolk Magistrates Court for a variety of offences under both the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 and the Theft Act 1968, including fishing in the closed season, fishing without a rod licence and illegal use of a net"

Quite a list of offences. How did the magistrate arrive at a £60 fine?

Because they dont give a fu*k.



(Admin edited for content. PGJ)

Because a Magistrate does not know the laws, the clarke of the court will give them information as to what action can be taken.

Makes a joke of the Law

Mark the law is a joke. You only have to listen to the radio, read the papers, watch the news daily to see that.

Commit a murder and you could get anything from five years to thirty (with no early release). Sometimes the five year sentance is for a crime which to my mind is worse than the crime that gets much longer.

Uniformity of fines and sentencing should be cast in stone but you have to remember that magistrates are not lawyers and have no knowledge of the laws that deal with these or any other issues. They work solely on the vagueries of guidelines. A stupid system that doesn't work on most levels.

Up here in Scotland: You can only be charged for poaching if you catch a fish and take it away, is this the same as down south ?.

So if any one that fishes up here and he uses the catch and release method, he can only be found guilty of fishing without a permit.

excuse my language earlier you can be done for stealing the right to fish not sure about the poaching part Jim