Maldon District Council River Prosecutions x 1 10th November

Mr MORRIS - Pleaded guilty received a fine of £100 and £90 costs



Maldon District Council River Prosecutions x 5 17th November



Mr Cooper

Following a previous not guilty plea was convicted and fined £300, ordered to pay £180 and a £15 victim surcharge at a Magistrates trial.

Mr Allen:

Entered a guilty plea by post and credit was given.

£300 fine

£90 costs

£15 Victim Surcharge

Total of £405 to be paid under a 14 day Collection Order



Mr Baker:

Did not attend Crt considered potential for delayed postal service; however, accepted good service and stated the defendant has the opportunity to apply to have the case reopened if necessary. Consequently the matter proceeded.

The facts were proved in absence.

£400 fine (no credit given)

£90 costs

£15 Victim Surcharge

Total of £505 to be paid under a 14 day Collection Order



Mr Cooper:

Entered a guilty plea by post and credit was given.

£300 fine

£90 costs

£15 Victim Surcharge

Total of £405 to be paid under a 14 day Collection Order



Mr Hart:

Entered a guilty plea by post and credit was given.

£400 fine

£90 costs

£15 Victim Surcharge

Total of £505 to be paid under a 14 day Collection Order

This fine imposed due to the near accident with Police vessel caused by the defendant.



From Mr Lofting



The above fines differ due to the different speeds each individual displayed on the water.

The areas on this occasion were specific to the River Blackwater following endless complaints of excess speed and dangerous use by the offending PWC (Personal watercraft) users.

This area of the Blackwater known as Mayland creek and Lawling creek has proved to be an area in Essex this season to demonstrate the most problems caused by PWC and Jet ski users.

Most of the offenders launched their craft from the Steeple Bay caravan park Slipway.

Essex Police Marine Unit worked closely with the Maldon River Bailiff Nigel Harmer carrying out the operation to promote safe usage on the water and to prevent further accidents for all watercraft and boat users.

" We carried out this operation in several areas of the Essex Coastline this season, areas that demonstrated the most complaints from members of the public and boating community, we carried out the operation from both the Police Rhib and Police PWC.

A further 3 offenders were also found guilty and fined for the same area at Chelmsford Magistrates court on the 05th October 2009.

This brings the Blackwater area so far this season to around 15 guilty convictions, we have more offenders awaiting court at this time.

Following numerous accidents and injurys across the coastline this season and a fatality in a previous season we will continue to work hard to educate those that want to use the water and also assist the council prosecute those who refuse to abide by the rules.

The entire area of all these offences is governed by byelaws to 8 knots, all of these craft were operating far in excess of that limit and some as fast as 40knots.

The offending users are a minority compared with those who use there craft within the rules and laws, its a shame because these few who do not use the craft correctly and safely let down the majority of PWC users.

Gary why have you removed this (From Dc S. L.( Name taken out))..If you are going to publicly flog these people fine, but either shorten the offenders name in the same manner or post the officers name...Smacks of double standards

Steve not 100% certain but think Simon asks that his name be taken out although it as available in the publc domian.

Gary only my view but should you not show your comments in a different colour to the press release?

Steve for your info I have shorten the offenders name by removing the first names,If other people read this which i hope they will then i hope some of them will take note of the first posting

Kev thanks but i was not asked to remove the officers name but will replace it with Mr if that alright with Steve and i have have removed my comments from the bottom.

Taken from Jetmans site

Police receive numerous complaints of speeding and dangerous use of personal watercraft and Jet Skis on the River Blackwater near Mayland and Lawling Creeks throughout the year.
The area is governed by a byelaw where the speed limit is eight knots.
The offenders have been operating far in excess of this limit, with some caught travelling as fast as 40knots.
Following court hearings in November, five men from Essex were fined a total of £1,700 for speeding on the river.
Investigating Officer, Dc Simon Lofting, said:
“The fines vary due to the different speeds each individual displayed on the water.
We work closely with the Maldon River baliff in a bid to promote safe usage on the water and prevent further incidents for all watercraft and boat users.
We use our police RHIB and personal watercraft to carry out operations in areas of the Essex coastline where we have received the most complaints from members of the public and the boating community.”
In October, three men were also found guilty and fined for speeding on the River Blackwater, bringing the number of convictions so far this year to 15 with others still awaiting trial.
Following numerous injuries to people across the coastline this year and a fatality in 2007, police will continue to work hard to educate those that want to use the water and officers will assist Maldon District Council with prosecutions against those who refuse to abide by the law.
Dc Lofting added:
“The offending users are a minority compared with those who use their craft within the rules and laws, so it’s a shame that these few let down the majority of personal watercraft users who do use their machines correctly and safely.”
All the men found guilty at court have been from Essex.

As Always i am happy to put my name to the above in line with police press release protocol.
The names were prosecuted in the public domain so they can all be shown just as it is in the Newspaper.
I hope the above prosecutions shows the rest of you that use the water correctly whom i speak with regulary on the water that we are out there to protect you and your responsible use and hit hard on those who choose to abuse it.
Wishing you all a happy xmas,
Marine Police.
Simon.lofting@essex.pnn.police.uk

hi, i dont personally think its a good idea for the owners of steeple bay caravan park to open up a pwc day launch for the main reason that it will encourage people who are not from the local area to cause problems on this already problem area of the river blackwater. most of the people who launch from here already, have no insurance and no idea of the local river by-laws. our club which is situated also on the blackwater has an almost 100 percent clean record with regard to our members commiting offences on the river in the last 30 or so years, all our members have to have insurance, pay a yearly membership and are fully aware of the locay river by-laws on the blackwater, we operate a one strike and your out policy with regard to being convicted of an offence. our club also works closely with the local river bailiff nigel harmer to ensure we dont get a bad name on the blackwater

I i agree strongly with your club, how this started is because of the problems.
Nigel and myself were ready to revoke their slip licence until the idea was suggested.
We are assured every user will need to be a member, that includes those who already have a caravan on site.
In addition everyone must have insurance and yes one strike and they are out!.
You could say this is a final chance for the site.
The site are working very hard to rectify the problem, i have personally prosecuted through Nigel 15 this year from there so they are very aware of the problem.
They are foing to include ID stickers and Day pass stickers, all of which will have insurace checked out.
LETS WAIT AND SEE HEY, It after all cant get much worse.
Essex Police will be enforcing next season with 2 PWC's so good times ahead.
Feel free to reoport to me any misuse and i will deal personally.
Regards,
Marine Police.
P.S yes your club has a recognised good name, keep it up although i am still waiting to hear about one of your members who is causing me problems in the Brightlingsea area....

thankyou, does need to be run properly with all craft having clear visable stickers so as not to be confused with our members if theres a problem, as you are aware, we have club stickers and numbers for this reason,ps would like to know which of our members is giving you trouble in brightlingsea, if you want to give me a name ill address it at the next committe meeting, thanks simon