Environment Agency Confirms Rod Licences Cannot Be Bought Retrospectively – Guido Fawkes

EXC: Environment Agency Confirms Rod Licences Cannot Be Bought Retrospectively

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The Environment Agency has now confirmed fishing rod licences cannot be purchased retrospectively to avoid prosecution, despite previously letting David Lammy off the hook for doing exactly that. They proudly declared in January that they ‘always prosecute’ rogue anglers… until the Foreign Secretary got his rod out.

A co-conspirator escalated a complaint on the issue and received this response from the EA today:

“Thank you for your e-mail which has been passed to me for further response.

I can confirm that fishing licences cannot be purchased retrospectively. Anyone fishing needs to be in possession of a licence at the time.

We treat all anglers equally, and, as stated in previous communication we cannot discuss the licence status of any individual, whether they are in the public eye or not.

I understand the frustration you may be feeling over this incident but I cannot discuss individual’s details.”

The EA is all over the place on this. The rule may be absurd, but if the Foreign Secretary is able to flout it then the 27 anglers whacked with fines this year should surely have grounds to challenge their prosecutions…