Thames pirate caught flouting regulations

It's owner, known as Pete, was caught at it again last week - but river PC Jim Halstead says the authorities are powerless to stop him, despite a recent crusade by the Environment Agency to stamp out the practice by introducing charges.

Desborough Island, however, doesn't come under the EA's jurisdiction, rather Spelthorne Council's, and that authority has still to follow the EA's lead by introducing similar charges. And, until they do, says PC Halstead, there is nothing he, or anyone, can do.

PC Halstead, who says the rogue boater flits between Desborough Island, Lindsay's Lawn and The Anglers Pub at Walton, said: "Where is now, he probably won't get complaints because it's out of season, but when it gets busier it becomes more of a problem.

"It's an eyesore but there's nothing that can be done at the moment. The river is there to be enjoyed but we are getting more and more itinerant moorers coming onto it - we have about 45 at the moment. When British Waterways chuck people off the canals, the only place they can come is the Thames - and they know they can get away with it.

"If you ask Pete to move, he will, but then he's got to be somewhere and he'll just go elsewhere. That's the situation at the moment."

The EA's policy of charging has generally found favour among legal moorers, who believe it's the only way to keep the rogues from outstaying their welcome.