(This is a press release from West Yorkshire Police)

Neighbourhood policing officers in Otley will be paying extra attention

to the banks of the River Wharfe this summer in response to concerns

raised by local anglers.

On two recent occasions, members of Otley Angling Club have encountered

a group of men using rods to steal fish from the stretch of river

opposite Garnett’s paper mill and at Gallows Hill.

The club controls fishing on the Wharfe from above Otley Bridge north

bank to Caley Lodge on Pool Road. People are only permitted to fish on

this stretch of the river if they hold a valid Environment Agency rod

licence and are members of the club. People fishing without a licence

can be fined up to £2,500 by the Environment Agency.

Anglers are also concerned they could see a repeat of incidents that

happened last summer where youths had thrown stones and harassed them

as they fished.

Officers from the North West Outer Neighbourhood Policing Team, based

at Otley police station, are liaising with the club and will be paying

extra attention to fishing spots along the Wharfe over the coming weeks

and months to target both issues.

Patrolling officers will be on the lookout for people fishing illegally

and will be supporting the club and the Environment Agency to take

action against offenders. They will also be taking firm action to deal

with any incidents of anti-social behaviour.

PC Oliver Snodgrass, of the North West Outer team, said:

“As a

neighbourhood policing team we are committed to helping to address the

issues that affect local people. The anglers should be able to fish in

peace without being subjected to anti-social behaviour and without

other people illegally depleting their stocks. It is theft, pure and

simple, and we will be working with the club and the Environment Agency

to see that anyone caught faces the appropriate action.”

Otley Angling Club Secretary Tim Hendry said:

“We are really pleased

that the police have taken our concerns seriously and responded to

them. We hope the fact that officers will be paying more attention to

the area will have a deterrent effect.”

Environment Agency fisheries technical officer Peter Mischenko said:

“We urge everyone, not just anglers, to report any illegal fishing that

they see using our incident hotline number 0800 80 70 60.

We investigate all reports that we receive, and take the necessary

action to ensure that people who are breaking the rules get prosecuted."