June 2021: Prosecution

Posted on 30th June 2021

Mylor fisherman prosecuted for failure to comply with a request made by a fisheries enforcement officer.

Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) successfully prosecuted Mr Jeremy Rule (60), the master and owner of the fishing vessel Storm Child FY3 who, on the 22nd September 2020, failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement reasonably made, or a direction reasonably given, by an enforcement officer.

Mr Jeremy Rule (60) of Mylor Bridge, Cornwall, pleaded guilty to the charge at Bodmin Magistrate Court on the 24th June 2021.  Magistrates fined Mr Rule £180, with costs of £240 awarded and a victim surcharge of £34, ordering him to pay within 14 days.

Enforcement officers from Cornwall IFCA were at Mylor Marina, with the intention to conduct an inspection of the catch of sea fish that was landed by Mr Rule. After they had checked the fish contained in fish boxes, Mr Rule was asked to allow an officer to look inside a bag that he had also brought ashore from his boat.  At this point, he became verbally abusive and refused repeated requests from an officer to inspect the contents of the bag. This was despite Mr Rule being advised that it was an offence for him to not comply with the officers’ requirement to carry out an inspection of the bag.  Mr Rule ended up getting in his car with the bag and driving away.  The whole incident, including Mr Rule’s abusive behaviour, was recorded on the officers’ body-worn video cameras and subsequently used in evidence.

Cornwall IFCA’s Principal Enforcement Officer, Simon Cadman, said “Inspections work is key to success of the Authority’s duty to manage the exploitation of sea fisheries resources within its district. Where someone significantly interferes with or undermines the regulatory regime, we will always take the matter extremely seriously and, as can be seen from this incident, where officers are prevented from carrying out inspections without good reason, we may take legal proceedings against a person who behaves in this way.”   

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