A 21-year-old man has been successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency after being found guilty of fishing without a licence in July 2018.

The case was brought to Northampton Magistrates Court on 4 March 2019 where Dillon Rudkin from Coston Road, Melton Mowbray, was proved guilty in his absence and ordered to pay a total penalty of £597.47. An annual fishing licence would have cost just £30.

The penalty includes a fine of £440 plus costs of £127.47 and a victim surcharge of £30 after Mr Rudkin was found in breach of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975) on 25 July 2018 at Lakeview Fisheries, Melton Mowbray.

Following the verdict, Pete Haslock, Enforcement Team Leader for the Environment Agency in the East Midlands, said:

The case shows how seriously the courts take these offences and acts as a reminder to anglers of the importance of having a rod licence. We hope it will provide a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing without a licence.

All of the money raised from rod licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefitting anglers and, for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.

Every year across the country, thousands of anglers are prosecuted for not having a fishing licence. As well as cheating other anglers, fishing illegally can carry a hefty penalty. Getting caught without a licence could land a fine of up to £2,500.

All income from rod licence sales is used to fund Environment Agency work to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, including improving habitats for fish and facilities for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage people to give fishing a go.

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just £6 and an annual licence costs from just £30 (concessions available). They are free for those aged 13 to 16. Licences are available online or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Civic Campus site will be developed to provide 121 new apartments.

Homes England has agreed a £3.4million funding deal with Havant Borough Council. The funding has been awarded through the Government’s £450 million Local Authority Accelerated Construction Programme and will enable development of new homes on the Council’s surface car parks at the Civic Campus.

The Council plans to use the funding to accelerate the delivery of, 121 apartments prioritising the use of modern methods of construction. Ideally located in Havant Town Centre, the one hectare surface level public car park adjoins the council offices and is close to Havant railway station.

Havant Council has aspirations to regenerate Havant Town Centre and the acceleration of new housing at the Civic Campus follows the development of Havant Plaza, which includes public sector facilities, leisure, homes for key workers and commercial office space.

The existing parking would be relocated through the construction of multi-storey parking on neighbouring surface car parks.

Stephen Kinsella, Executive Director for Land at Homes England, said:

“The funding will enable Havant Borough Council to accelerate their regeneration plans and deliver much needed homes. The plans aim to prioritise the use of off-site manufacturing deliver high quality, precision engineered and highly energy efficient homes on this town centre site.”

Councillor Tim Pike, Deputy Leader of Havant Borough Council and Cabinet Lead for Finance and Regeneration said:

“We are delighted to receive this funding from Homes England that will kick start Havant Borough Council’s regeneration plans.”

“The civic campus site has great potential. Its transformation will be a game-changer for our borough delivering new homes, construction jobs and economic growth. I believe it is the start of a regeneration programme that will deliver future prosperity right across our borough.”

ENDS

For more information contact Kate Hall, Communications Officer at Homes England on 0115 852 6900 or email kate.hall@homesengland.gov.uk

Announces the launch of the Future of mobility urban strategy.