Email: Camouflage boat

We moor on the Trent & Mersey close to Derwent Mouth Lock where the  camouflage boat has been seen in this vicinity for many months, this includes, Cranfleet Cut, Erewash Canal and Trent & Mersey canal.

We have been told on several occasions by different boaters to be vigilant if you moor near this boat as items have allegedly gone missing, it also seems to be common knowledge that this craft has no licence.

If this is such common knowledge amongst legal boaters then why on earth has British Waterways or now CART not taken any action against this craft? Surely this could lead to the attitude that if 'they' can get away with it then why can't we. This could be the thin end of the wedge in as much that if boaters start taking this approach then the authorities would not have the resources to control this problem, hence more finances lost.

I do not like the use of the word or practice of vigilantly, but why if a 'legal' boater reports an 'illegal' boater, and action is taken in as much that either the illegal boater pays their licence or the craft is removed from the water then the person reporting the problem is rewarded with a discount on their own licence on renewal.

All that would be required would be the craft's name and number, or if neither of these were visible, which is most likely, then a discrete photo if possible or a description of the craft and its location, i.e. between bridges x and y.

It really, really does frustrate me that I along with many others pay our dues, i.e licence, morning fees and insurance, while some abuse the system and get away with it.

Alan Clarke