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Lake Byelaw Enforcement

Lake users have a right of navigation on Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater and Coniston Lake.

These navigable lakes in the Lake District have different byelaws that apply:

What to do if you observe byelaw infringements taking place:

If you do see any lake byelaw infringements taking place please report these straight away through to our duty Lake Rangers. They are contactable on mobile number 07768 320 241 or email us at LakeRangerTeam@lakedistrict.gov.uk and our Lake Rangers will respond.

Please provide as much information as possible, the more information provided the better the chance we will have of finding those involved to investigate what has happened.

You can use our Byelaw infringement report form to record your information and email it to us.

Information to make a note of includes:

  • Details of the byelaw infringement, for example: speeding above the 6nmph or 10nmph, navigating without due care and attention.
  • Date and time of the incident and for how long it occurred.
  • The location of the incident, for example: a grid reference, otherwise a description of where on the lake it was near to, for example: 400metres north of Bark Barn Jetty, or centre of lake opposite Beech Hill Hotel.
  • Vessel details – ideally the vessel registration number (this is a 4 or 5 digit white   number shown on a black background) and a description of the boat – make, model, colour and the type, for example: sailing boat or a motor boat.
  • Number and description of the people aboard, for example; two middle aged males.
  • To be able to prosecute we will need videos or photographs of the bylaw infringement. Please try to:
    1. Video the incident side on for as long as possible.
    2. Video the vessel passing fixed points on the shoreline, for example: buildings, boat houses, jetties or other fixed landmarks.
    3. Video or photographs which can show the vessel number.

Enforcement of byelaws on navigable lakes Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston Water and Derwentwater

The Navigable Lake Byelaws are in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all groups who use the lakes. Our officers monitor those using the lake, and we will stop and talk to people to provide advice, educate them on safety and the byelaws, and make sure everyone is safe.

We use a variety of things to help us undertake this monitoring work, including;

  • Lake patrols by uniformed officers.
  • Responding to concerns raised by members of the public and answering questions about activities on the lake.
  • Filming from marked and unmarked patrol boats.
  • Filming from the lakeshore, jetties and strategic roadside locations. All locations used are accessible by members of the public.
  • The use of fixed, mobile and temporary CCTV cameras, operated by us and third parties, with who we have we have data-sharing agreements.
  • Video evidence, given to us by third parties including the public, South Lakeland District Council Lake Wardens, Cumbria County Council, the Police and commercial operators.
  • Use of radar onboard our patrol vessels.

Filming is done by uniformed Lake District National Park Authority officers. We use video recording equipment that is stored, used and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Our officers generally look at all activities on the lake and record users that they consider to be using the lakes contrary to the byelaws or in a way that is dangerous to other lake users.

When our officers think a situation needs it, we will take appropriate steps to stop or prevent the activity. This may include legal enforcement action.

In the case of vessels considered to be travelling faster than the relevant speed limits, any video evidence obtained will be processed using commercial or open-source software. Speeds are then calculated using the frame rate and metadata of the video file and the elapsed time taken for vessels to pass fixed points in the frame.

As new equipment, software or methodology becomes available and is adopted by us, it will be brought to the attention of lake users both here and through other channels.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) authorisation is not required for carrying out our routine enforcement duties by authorised officers. It is not considered to be a "covert operation" as officers are not engaged in a "specific investigation or a specific operation" nor do they carry out their duties "in a manner that is calculated to ensure that persons who are subject to the surveillance are unaware that it is or may be taking place".

All evidence is forwarded to our Solicitor, who determines whether or not the matter will be prosecuted through the Single Justice Procedure in the Magistrates’ Court.

All interactions between our officers and lake users are recorded on our Registration Database and are held for three years. Where a defendant has been convicted by the courts, our interactions with them will be recorded and held on our Registration Database for five years.