On Wednesday 18 September, officers from the Devon and Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Team were joined by officers from the Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Team to patrol key fishing locations on the Great Western Canal as part of Operation Leviathan – a proactive operation tackling fish theft and illegal fishing.

The teams engaged with anglers and members of the public along the canal in Sampford Peverell, Halberton and Tiverton. 

Anglers welcomed the opportunity to engage with officers and discussed some of the issues surrounding fishing and the coordinated multi-agency approaches to fisheries crime, both locally and nationally.

Members of the public are reminded that fishing without permission and the theft of fish (from enclosed waters) are criminal offences under the Theft Act, 1968.

If you witness any of these offences being committed, please do not intervene - keep yourself safe and call 999.

Non-urgent information relating to fisheries offences should be reported to the police online or by calling 101. Alternatively, you can report information anonymously directly to Crimestoppers. 

To apply for a fishing licence visit the government website or, to learn more about fishing laws, click here.