I wrote last week about 'Granny turning informer', where, by entering the number of a boat on the Waterscape Online Boat Checker, I was able to alert them to a boat without a displayed licence .
And I said I'd not had an acknowledgement by email.
I do hope they don't accept sightings without an email (preferably without a confirmed email).
I'd hate to think they treated unlicensed boats like reports of rapists or muggers or burglars.
If my neighbour's rubbish builds up and causes a nuisance to me, I report his landlord to the council. If the local garage sells its cars on the public road which means I cannot park in a space I pay for, then I report him to the council. If neither affect my life in any way I need not report him. This seems to be the case with these kind of 'reporting' sites. They exploit the ideal of 'I pay my taxes/licence/rates...etc.'. Rubbish. I have no more need o report my neighbour to the council for not affecting me personally than you do reporting someone who, for whatever reason, hasn't paid for a boat licence. Pat yourself on the back for being good and pying your way. When the neighbour rapes your family then you can report him.
Posted by: Geoff Belson | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 11:41 PM
My boat comes up as unlicensed. We sent the cheque off two weeks ago.
The BW help line has a recorded message saying don't phone unless we've had your money for three weeks
Posted by: Andy | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 10:42 PM
They've run out of Stasi informer medals to send out already, but I hear there's a new batch been ordered... ;-)
Posted by: Dave | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 01:21 PM