Unfortunately sounds all too familiar in the UK that the fishermen think they own the river. Sadly, some areas are worse than others, eg River Kent, River Sprint and the River Tawe in South Wales. To date I have yet to hear of the police actually charging somebody with criminal damage or assault.

Stu, why don't you post this article on the UK guidebook site (www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/), they have been collecting evidence of these cases in hope of bringing about some changes?

D

Keep on this issue follow it up make sure that the guys get done for assaulting you on the river, endangering your lives ( by turning you over and taking your paddles)and for impersonating a police officer.

I don’t think you get them for what happened to your van

But that should hinder you from nailing them on the other thing focus on what you can get them for.

Best of luck
Sean

As grown up responsible paddlers we need to make sure that we abide by access agreements(no matter how odious/unfair/ridiculous we deem them to be)If we ignore them we leave ourselves open to abuse and the wrath of fishermen and landowners alike.
Personally I 'd prefer it if we could all paddle whenever and wherever we liked but it aint the way it is...at the moment.If challenged we need to remain calm and polite or we'll just blow it for everyone.Having said that people can't go around grabbing other peoples kayaks so they can have a few words with the occupants.
Lets hope relations haven't been damaged too badly because of this incident.MORE PEACE! MORE LOVE! MORE CHOCOLATE CAKE!...NOW!

[quote:da3fe2baaa="Foleyartist"]
As grown up responsible paddlers we need to make sure that we abide by access agreements([b:da3fe2baaa]no matter how odious/unfair/ridiculous we deem them to be[/b:da3fe2baaa])If we ignore them we leave ourselves open to abuse and the wrath of fishermen and landowners alike.

If challenged we need to remain calm and polite or we'll just blow it for everyone.
[/quote:da3fe2baaa]

I think that the first part of that (in bold) is rubbish. If there were fair access agreements in place on English/Welsh rivers, then fair enough, until then, I see no reason to recognise them at all. It just maintains the status quo that the landowners/fishermen (most not all) want to maintain, maintaining the feudal atmosphere that pervades the UK!

As for the second part, couldn't agree more.

For interest, the origional thread on www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk has a response from the fishermen in question, an interesting read and all parties wanted the matter closed. I for one, am glad that he responded.

[quote:6c6a7ba95f="neilfarmer"]
For interest, the origional thread on www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk has a response from the fishermen in question, an interesting read and all parties wanted the matter closed. I for one, am glad that he responded.[/quote:6c6a7ba95f]
Just wondering what makes that thead more 'original' than this one. The fact that it was posted 4 minutes earlier

Btw if you scroll up on this page a little, you'll see that the fisherman in question posted his response here as well.

2 good points there!
Points go to Jeroen on this bit!
Still, let us all be positive on UK rivers, there are some cracking runs here!