Research shows that fish theft and illegal fishing are the two biggest concerns for today's angler.

By joining the Angling Trust and Environment Agency "Special Bailiff Scheme" anglers can help stamp out fish theft on rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries helping to preserve fisheries for generations to come.

The Angling Trust and Environment Agency are running a three year pilot in the Environment Agency South East Region to prove the effectiveness of well trained volunteers in acting as a back up to full time Environment Agency bailiffs in their difficult task of policing our fisheries.

Volunteers in the South East are invited to apply now for this opportunity to make a difference.

The Angling Trust is initially looking for twelve volunteers in each of the four areas within Environment Agency South East, forty-eight in total, to work as part of the Angling Trust Team. Volunteers will be subject to a CRB check and will be expected to undergo a training course. They will then work in conjunction with the Environment Agency Team of Enforcement Officers delivering information on illegal activity and in the first year prove themselves capable of monitoring and reporting activities on rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries in their local area, not just on their own club or syndicate waters.

After the first year some volunteers will be offered the opportunity to train for a Management Restricted Environment Agency Bailiff Warrant so that they can extend their duties into licence checking and byelaw offences and take an active role working alongside operational Agency bailiffs in the field. In this role they will be representing both the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency. To be eligible, volunteers will undergo an enhanced CRB check and will have special training to give them the skills needed when dealing with the public in what can be difficult circumstances.

During this period the Angling Trust will be recruiting further monitoring and reporting volunteers to act as eyes and ears and to provide the intelligence to guide the activities of the highly trained Environment Agency bailiffs and voluntary Special Bailiffs.

In year three, some Special Bailiffs will be offered the chance to become fully warranted Environment Agency Volunteer Bailiffs, working independently when licence checking and able to assist full time officers in active operations to apprehend fish thieves and others breaking national fishery byelaws.

Volunteers will be expected to offer an average of four hours a week to the scheme and will be in the vanguard of what the Angling Trust hope to develop into a fully equipped national team of volunteer bailiffs, much like Police Special Constables, working alongside full time Environment Agency Bailiffs who will be responsible for managing volunteer efforts. Applicants will work in the evenings and at weekends as well as during the day.

Volunteers will need to be reasonably fit and able to demonstrate good interpersonal skills, show the ability to write clear and concise reports, keep accurate notebook records and timesheets and have an intimate knowledge of the waters in their area as well as having a full driving licence and being able to swim. This is an Angling Trust initiative and applicants will need to be a member of the Angling Trust to receive insurance cover.

For an application pack contact the Angling Trust on 0844 7700616 (Option 1) or email bailiffs@anglingtrust.net

To join the Angling Trust call 0844 7700616 (Option 1) or go to www.anglingtrust.net