Officers receive training to target rural crime and protect local waterways
Nottinghamshire Police has taken a proactive step to combat rural crime and protect the county’s precious waterways by equipping its rural and wildlife officers with specialist angling training.
The training session, delivered in partnership with the Angling Trust, took place on Thursday 15 May at Muskham Lakes near Newark, a popular fishing spot in the region. Officers from across rural communities gathered to deepen their understanding of angling-related crimes, including illegal fishing, fish theft, and the impact of invasive species on local ecosystems.
The move comes as part of a wider initiative by the force to clamp down on wildlife crime and safeguard Nottinghamshire’s rural spaces. Officers learned how to identify and respond to offences involving unlicensed fishing and were briefed on real-life cases where offenders have faced criminal and civil prosecutions for illegal angling activities.
According to Nottinghamshire Police, illegal fishing is not only damaging to the environment, but it also poses a serious threat to fish health, spreading disease and allowing non-native species to take hold in delicate habitats. There are also concerns that such activity can provide a gateway to organised criminal behaviour in rural areas.
Building Skills and Partnerships
Juliet Webber, Rural and Wildlife Crime Partnerships Manager for Nottinghamshire Police, highlighted the importance of the training:
“We’re working with farmers and residents to ensure we’re tackling their concerns and to hear what we can do as their local police team to clamp down on rural crime.
“It’s also important for our rural crime and wildlife officers to make connections with partner agencies and build a network of support as we harbour a strong team spirit across all of our rural districts.”
This training forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen community ties and increase officer knowledge in key rural areas. It follows the recent revival of the Horse Watch scheme, another initiative aimed at boosting police visibility and response in agricultural settings.
Why It Matters
Nottinghamshire’s rich network of rivers, lakes, and canals is not only a haven for anglers and wildlife but also a vital part of the region’s tourism and local economy. By investing in training that targets illegal angling and environmental crimes, Nottinghamshire Police is taking a firm stance in protecting both natural resources and community wellbeing.
The force is urging anyone who spots suspicious fishing activity or suspects a fisheries offence to report it via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.