Don't moor in Middlewich

Published: Friday, 14 August 2009

BOATERS are being advised not to moor in Middlewich as louts are terrorising moorers and damaging boats.

Such is the problem that police community support officers are patrolling the Trent & Mersey Canal in the town in the night to try and apprehend the culprits.

During the latest night's problem a group of men smashed boat windows and untied boats at the moorings. Anything loose on the roofs was thrown into the canal, including an expensive stainless steel chimney as well as numerous flower pots, which were first broken.

This has occurred on numerous occasions, but at varying times, with the latest at 3.45am when the boats occupants were rudely awakened by the louts.

PSCO Richard Garrett, pictured above, warned the vandals:

"Middlewich neighbourhood policing team would like to emphasise that mindless acts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and we will be working hard to bring the individuals responsible to justice."

Sometimes it is drunks who just bang on windows, and adds Richard:

"They've banged on windows, untied others and gone on their merry way. "It's an unfortunate part of being on a barge [narrowboat] that this can happen."

This usually occurs at week-ends, and this weekend PCSO Roger Need will patrol the towpaths on Friday and Saturday night.

This has happened in the past, but the officers believe that narrowboaters accept this and 'they obviously go off on their travels so chances are they've left'.