the law,,,

[TF_baggerParticipant]

what is the law?
while fishing the local canal,,,in Birmingham,,we were happy catching a few roach,when we saw a special constable racing down the cut, towards us ,,when i saw him i tried to unship as quick as i could, as i had a fish on, naw the copper skidded to a halt, then proceeded to explain that it was against the law to fish with poles ACCROSS THE CANAL PATH down the cut, as cyclists and walkers had the right of way,,,i understand if the copper had been racing to a crime scene,then he cycle, off smashing a top 3 on my sensas pole. he said he would be back after checking the bye laws,, does anybody know DO YOU NEED A LICENCE TO CYCAL DOWN THE CANAL PATH , AND CAN A POLICE OFFICER ARREST YOU FOR FISHING A POLE DOWN THE CANAL MANY THANKS MICK

[TF_gloves007uk]

if i remember because it is a public walkway then you are not allowed to block the footpath ~think ~think ~think
any way sod the special constable half of them make matters and suituations worse in my eyes by over reacting

[TF_MarkT]

Either way he’s doesn’t have the right to damage your stuff. thats definitely breaking the law!!??

[TF_gloves007uk]

fair point and to that end i would find out which police station he was from and have him for damages
no one is above the law even a special constable
the end of the day they are only plastic coppers
oh how these lot really p##s me of at times
~naughty ~naughty ~naughty ~naughty

[loadofoldcarp]

You don’t need a licence to cycle anywhere in the uk. Shame really, as cyclists are the biggest bunch of rissoles going, and they get to p155 us all off for free.

As for the law, technically if you are breaking it, they can arrest you for it. Whether they will or not is thier discretion. Even ‘specials’ normally have better things to do, like beating up or courting sexual favours from single mothers for minor shoplifting or pole tax avoidance offences.

[bodgeParticipant]

back in the good old days when i fished canals regularly you weren’t suppose to cycle on the canal towpath at all!!

[TF_Nigel.]

I am afraid he is right, walkers do have the right of way on a footpath. Cyclist also do if it is a bridal path, or they have a cycle permit, witch are free.
A policeman of course will have permission to ride on a path.
No one can block, move or destroy a path, except farmers who can plough the path if it runs across his field, but must reinstate it within 14 days.
I once moved a path over 100 yards, and it took 7 years to get permission!
I have a path around my lake, and i have signs at each end, and on all the draw tickets, saying ‘do not leave your pole over the path’.

You must be annoyed if your pole has been broken, but don’t expect the person who broke it to pay for it if it is over a public footpath.

[TF_proper tidal boy]

bogde lol in the old days we got a clout round the head if we was out of order no0w they cant breath on you shame really it didnt do us any harm

[TF_Johnny Mac]

I fished a canal match yesterday (never again, lol). At least 30 cyclists/joggers passed by, all were fine, stopped and waited if poles were over the path. Only a couple of tools, you know the type, wrap around mirror shades and attitude, lol.

The match was won by the great Alan McAtee with 16-02, 7lb was second 🙂

[TF_allyParticipant]

Thought that the half price police didnt have any more power than your average citizen

[loadofoldcarp]

@Johnny Mac wrote:

you know the type, wrap around mirror shades and attitude, lol.

LOL, oakleys = TOOL.

+ attitude = need a good slap 😀

[TF_mike pattinson]

Not exactly sure on the law, but if you pay for the fishing, then if you are not allowed to block the footpath it becomes the towpath owners responcibility, they are breaking the law by not informing you.

Many tow paths are footpaths but not cycle paths, therefore if the path is not a bridal path as Nigel states you may have a valid claim, there was no need for plod to cycle down the path as he would be able to see you were not going anywhere. A complaint may be in order, but be carefull revenge is sweet!!!!!!

[TF_gloves007uk]

@Johnny Mac wrote:

I fished a canal match yesterday (never again, lol). At least 30 cyclists/joggers passed by, all were fine, stopped and waited if poles were over the path. Only a couple of tools, you know the type, wrap around mirror shades and attitude, lol.

The match was won by the great Alan McAtee with 16-02, 7lb was second 🙂

i used to fish the K&A canal in the warmmer months
had the same problem now only fish it in the colder months nobody wants to go running walking when its cold just us daft anglers ~clap ~clap

[TF_Gavin]

I think if the canal is owned by British Waterways then cyclists are supposed to have a permit. I may be wrong, and if it’s not BW controlled (in some way) then it’s irrelivant!

[TF_redarmy]

you need a cycle permit,they are free but you still have to register online and print the permit off,the only canal i knew where it wasnt allowed was the bridgewater and that was because its owned by peel holdings and not BW and they put angled steel gateways up every so many miles to stop motorbikes and cyclists

[TF_simon pavey]

If it is British waterways a (free) cycle permit is needed. Quote BW “There is no public right of way for cycle users on canal towpaths and BW reserves the right to withdraw the cycle permit from users who disregard the rules”
Also in their rules it states anglers should use a pole cup to feed near moored boats.

As far as I am concerned if I have purchased a day ticket or club membership, I am a paying customer of BW.and cyclists are are not .The tow path is private property…

And , why buy a “mountain” bike and ride it on a level path?

[TF_Rad]

~think specials have no powers of arrest if they detain anyone they have to get a proper police officer to arrest.am afraid if had broken my top kit through ignorance he would have been swimming. any laws on em swiming in the canal lol

[TF_Rad]

~think specials have no powers of arrest if they detain anyone they have to get a proper police officer to arrest.am afraid if had broken my top kit through ignorance he would have been swimming. any laws on em swiming in the canal lol

[TF_Rad]

[TF_Spiderman]

@Rad wrote:

~think specials have no powers of arrest if they detain anyone they have to get a proper police officer to arrest.am afraid if had broken my top kit through ignorance he would have been swimming. any laws on em swiming in the canal lol

You are mixing these up with Community Support Officers who cannot arrest!

Specials can…http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/recruitment/specials/

[TF_BlobbyParticipant]

A canal towpath is a right of way and therefore shouldn’t be blocked. However, personally (as a proper copper)I would not count shipping a pole back as blocking a right of way it’s a temporary hazard and not a permenant structure.

You do need a permit to cycle on towpaths, I have one myself, they are available free and on line from British Waterways. Police may be exempt I don’t know I’ve never really looked into it.

Special Constables do have a power of arrest the same as any regular constable but it can only be used within the force area where they work(!).

If the Special broke your sections, whether deliberate or by accident I think you’d have good grounds for compensation. Write to the divisional commander for the division where this incident took place. If you get no satisfaction write to the Chief Constable. If it was deliberate he want disciplining at least.

[FORDY 1Participant]

shud of launched him in.

[TF_RMNDIL]

I understand the law as Blobby say’s. On BW waters a cyclist MUST have a licence. A pole is not a PERMANENT structure. It is not BLOCKING the towpath but it (you) is USING the towpath (as you are leagally allowed to as you pay the controlling club/BW a fee to do just that). They are two totally different things. It is no more blocking the towpath than a pushchair or pram which can take up the whole width. A cyclist wouldn’t (?) deliberately speed into that. Would he ??

[TF_justin case]

@FORDY 1 wrote:

shud of launched him in.

Same here, bike aswell

At no point where you permenently blocking the towpath you wasnt breaking any laws the guy is just being a dick and no doubt when he gets promoted from plastic to real he will be one of them right assholes you come across every now and then.

Shame really as there are a lot of quality guys on the force and the odd moron gives them a bad name.

If he broke your top 3 I would be creating serious hell over that, he has no right to to embark on criminal damage in order to prove a point.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

Hes only a YTS bobby he probably had his facts wrong ! The Community Police round here in Agbrigg seem to think laws dont apply to Pakistanis & Gypsies racing their cars about they just stand on the road side and have the Piss taken out of them, people walk past them smoking skunk I really dont see a point in their presence at all the general consensus is nobody recognises them as Police personell

[Anonymous]

Specials only have power to DETAIN and have to have a full time consable with them in order to make an arrest thats why they patrol in pair one real one not

[Author]

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