Nottinghamshire Police patrols River Trent banks between Nottingham and Lincoln to crack down on illegal fishing

Patrols have been carried out to crack down on illegal fishing.

Nottinghamshire Police officers have worked alongside the Environment Agency fisheries enforcement team to detect illegal angling on the banks of the River Trent between Nottingham and Lincoln.

Officers patrolled over the May bank holiday weekend, where there were five detected and reported offences and 250 rod licences were checked by Environment agency officers.

Christian Hurley, Nottinghamshire Police wildlife and rural crime sergeant, said: “We have received some really positive feedback from our partners for the help and support we’ve given during these proactive joint patrols to help put a stop to illegal fishing and tackle fish theft.

“It is vital that we continue to work alongside partner agencies, such as the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust, to tackle these issues and send a warning that breaking the law will not be tolerated.”

Over the two patrol days, police officers carried out spot checks targeting illegal fishing and fish theft, while Environment Agency officers were on hand to deal with any licence offences and enforcement for breaches.

Sian Tyson, fisheries enforcement officer East Midlands for the Environment Agency, said: “This joint operation is vital in protecting spawning fish and future generations of fish stock.

"We are thankful for the help and support that Nottinghamshire Police have provided and look forward to continuing our successful partnership work in the future.”

Patrols, which were also carried out in the Newark area, were carried out using a boat and a 4x4.