Well, that’s another season of patrolling completed. Twelve teams, involving 105 KEBC volunteers have been out and about since early April, on foot, wheels and water, generally keeping an eye on things and, significantly, being seen to be doing so. It’s difficult to judge a deterrent effect but Police and Harbour statistics suggest a low crime rate hereabouts and, coincident with the establishment of our patrols, decreasing still. Not that this season on the water has been without incidents of wrongdoing, including thefts. Naturally enough, serious naughtiness is unlikely to happen right under the noses of our dayglo-clad teams. Except, of course, for the chap – since successfully prosecuted – who rammed our Co-ordinator’s boat, out on high-visibility (!) patrol in Widegates.
Predominantly the Boatwatch log book records “all quiet”, “no incidents”, “nothing to report”, which must be all to the good. Nevertheless, boats adrift have been recovered and secured, lost keys have been restored to their owners, boats at hazard on their moorings have been made safe, boat owners’ attention has been drawn to security risks, and speedsters, litter-louts and rumbustious youths have been “advised”.
Such matters are not only the province of our official patrols. Many have come to light because our boatwatchers, in the habit of keeping a weather eye, report or deal with what they come across when going about their everyday adventures.
Nor should we ever forget the essential undercover, intelligence gathering sorties to various waterside hostelries.
Neil White
Boatwatch Administrator
20 October 2011

Ian Drinkwater
Boatwatch Co-ordinator

For more information on marking or Boatwatch contact Ian Drinkwater on 852938 or Neil White on 856601

Ian Drinkwater "DNA" marking an outboard

The co-operation with the local Police is a positive feature of KEBC Boatwatch