Volunteer out yesterday chasing a speeder

PaulGooch said:
I'm not 110% sure i'm comfortable with "private" entities having "police powers", but then we do have private companies running security for the Olympics, prisoner transport etc etc

That said, i think the guys on volunteer provide a good and valuable service. They will often be on the scene of an incident before the RNLI could even get a call out on the pagers. I've heard them respond to incidents really quickly. We once listened to them respond to a yacht with a rope around the prop, they promptly towed it back to SYH and then had a diver in the water to remove the rope. Not bad for a freeby, IMO.

I'd hope that their first line of "attack" with speeding boats would be a polite reminder of the speed limits, rather than anything heavy handed.
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Initially not sure but this post convinces me that, on balance, these volunteers are a force for good.

If they get too heavy too often they will soon be told to poke off.
 
PaulGooch said:
I'm not 110% sure i'm comfortable with "private" entities having "police powers", but then we do have private companies running security for the Olympics, prisoner transport etc etc

That said, i think the guys on volunteer provide a good and valuable service. They will often be on the scene of an incident before the RNLI could even get a call out on the pagers. I've heard them respond to incidents really quickly. We once listened to them respond to a yacht with a rope around the prop, they promptly towed it back to SYH and then had a diver in the water to remove the rope. Not bad for a freeby, IMO.

I'd hope that their first line of "attack" with speeding boats would be a polite reminder of the speed limits, rather than anything heavy handed.
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this was after a grounding & dismasting on the Deben Bar, the stricken vessel was towed up the Stour to his mooring all foc
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Well if any of those who object to more than 6 knots ever gets into bother on the Orwell and needs assistance I hope the volunteer boat only goes to the casualty at 6 knots , me being a petrol head with a mast on the other hand wants flat out 40 knts + :D
 
willfinch36 said:
Typical Yottie snobbery, anyone who has ever done more than 6 knots its branded an "Idiot".
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What a childish response.

Last weekend for example, Volunteer was tasked to discourage a group of jetskiers from playing at high speed in the main ship turning area in Felxstowe port. It's that sort of behaviour, or the breaking of a river speed limit by a factor of two or three that makes someone an idiot. I suggest reading the thread rather than trying to pick a silly argument.
 
The Lazy Kipper said:
What a childish response.

Last weekend for example, Volunteer was tasked to discourage a group of jetskiers from playing at high speed in the main ship turning area in Felxstowe port. It's that sort of behaviour, or the breaking of a river speed limit by a factor of two or three that makes someone an idiot. I suggest reading the thread rather than trying to pick a silly argument.
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Quite so
 
nigelm said:
Well if any of those who object to more than 6 knots ever gets into bother on the Orwell and needs assistance I hope the volunteer boat only goes to the casualty at 6 knots , me being a petrol head with a mast on the other hand wants flat out 40 knts + :D
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As one of both persuasions, please let's all bat on the same side.
 
willfinch36 said:
Typical Yottie snobbery, anyone who has ever done more than 6 knots its branded an "Idiot".
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What a surprising and insulting comment to make, particularly on this forum.

It isn't "typical yottie snobbery" to want people to stick to a safe speed in a river. I still recollect with horror two IDIOTS driving their speedboats upriver through the moorings at Methersgate on the Deben some years ago. They came through on the plane at very high speed, probably 30 kts (it may have been 25kts or 35kts). They weren't even in line astern. My then 12 year old daughter was out rowing the tender with her friend. Fortunately they weren't in the way. Now these two may have been awesome experts, superbly trained in high speed avoidance techniques with instant reactions, the Jenson Buttons of recreational boating. I very much doubt it.

What possible justification can there be for the "liberty" of a high powered motorboat or jetski driver to travel at excessive speed at the expense of the potential safety of the 90%+ of other users of our busy rivers. Those who think they are "good enough" to disregard the speed limits, which I'm sure doesn't include you when in your RIB, are the very people who normally do need to be restricted, and who the rest of us need and deserve protection from.

The speed limit (along with decent seamanship) is frequently abused down at the pretty busy and crowded Felixstowe Ferry end of the Deben and I would dearly like to see a few successful prosecutions with meaningful penalties to act as a deterrent. It's a shame there doesn't seem to be anyone much around to do the enforcement, so let's hope Volunteer has some effect, though not at the expense of their primary role in which they are invaluable.

There are de-restricted areas designated for water sports in both the Deben and the Orwell, and there's a very big open de-restricted sea for those competent to venture out there.
 
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For those who are uncomfortable with volunteers or vigilantes call them what you will. You may have to get used to it. The decimation of our Police Forces, like em or loathe them, will accelerate drastically after the sports day which they've just helped bail out has finished.

Check out inspectorgadget.wordpress.com for the inside track on what's coming/happening.

There will be many more "accredited volunteers" carrying out enforcement roles in all walks with little or no redress when they over step the mark. They are no doubt well meaning also very cheap so obviously best in regimes that know all about cost and nothing about value. Whilst they have a place they should not be a replacement. They should support other organisations/authorities not replace them which is what appears to be happening in many areas.

Just saying.....
 
There is a lot of tender traffic on the Orwell, with people often rowing out to moorings. Very vulnerable to a boat doing any excessive speed through either collision or swamping.

6kts is sensible and should be enforced.

IMHO, Volunteer do a terrific job.
 
Phoenix of Hamble said:
There is a lot of tender traffic on the Orwell, with people often rowing out to moorings. Very vulnerable to a boat doing any excessive speed through either collision or swamping.

6kts is sensible and should be enforced.

IMHO, Volunteer do a terrific job.
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I reported a commercial I thought was doing 10 knots. The wash from it was knocking moored boats about and causing massive wash on the shore. The coastguard contacted the boat while I was on the telephone and told me the boat was actually doing 12 knots but would slow down to 10 knots at Pin Mill. Apparently the speed limit doesn't apply to some commercials as they claim they cannot steer at low speeds!
 
RUSSH said:
For those who are uncomfortable with volunteers or vigilantes call them what you will. You may have to get used to it. The decimation of our Police Forces, like em or loathe them, will accelerate drastically after the sports day which they've just helped bail out has finished.

Check out inspectorgadget.wordpress.com for the inside track on what's coming/happening.

There will be many more "accredited volunteers" carrying out enforcement roles in all walks with little or no redress when they over step the mark. They are no doubt well meaning also very cheap so obviously best in regimes that know all about cost and nothing about value. Whilst they have a place they should not be a replacement. They should support other organisations/authorities not replace them which is what appears to be happening in many areas.

Just saying.....
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Well it may happen but personally, I'll fight it all the way. A Police Force that can be held to account for their actions and are employed / trained for the specific role, is a fundamental part of our society. They are also publicly employed servants who's sole purpose is to serve the public.
Private organisations have other targets to consider.

Once again, this is no slight against 'Volunteer' or its team but the principal of civilians / private organisations carrying out Police functions, is entirely wrong!
 
Fire99 said:
Well it may happen but personally, I'll fight it all the way. A Police Force that can be held to account for their actions and are employed / trained for the specific role, is a fundamental part of our society. They are also publicly employed servants who's sole purpose is to serve the public.
Private organisations have other targets to consider.

Once again, this is no slight against 'Volunteer' or its team but the principal of civilians / private organisations carrying out Police functions, is entirely wrong!
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I tend to agree, although in the US they have appointed deputies, for example in court buildings and I believe the system works ok. They are licensed and controlled and in the main there is some training requirement.
That said I would love to reduce the size of the Armed Forces and what better pool of men to select from to bee up our Border Patrol/Coastguard and Police Forces from.
 
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