LONDON, Dec. 10 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
Sevenreoffendingboatownershavefaced a second day inStaines Magistrates'court afterneglecting to pay their registration fees for consecutive years.
Environment Agency officers patrolling Penton Hook marinaon1 April 2025foundthe vessels mooredin neighbouring berths to wherethey'dbeen served noticesjust 16months earlier.
Colin Chiverton, Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said:
This is incredible. Fresh from their day in court, these owners received re-registration letters and ignored them all over again.
So back to Staines they go for more court fees, moresurchargesand more fines. Have they learned this time around?I hope so, as if they keep offending,we'llkeep catching them.
Second time offender, Leslie Marsh of Chertsey, was fined £500 for his boat Oopsie Daisy, and ordered to pay an additional £200 Victim Surcharge and £275 Costs for the offence despite paying the £1341.81 registration fee before the court date, as once a summons has been issued the Environment Agency will not stop court proceedings.
The owner of 'Oopsie Daisy' was fined £500 for not registering their boat.
11 offences brought fines of costs of £27,541
In the4Novemberand2December batch of prosecutions, the court also heard thatthree firsttime offenders had skipped the annual registration fee (including an owner of two boats).
One of these was Klaus Beversluis, owner of La Belle View, a large Dutch barge. The court heard that Beversluis had paid no annual registration fee since ownership had been transferred to him in 2021. He pleaded guilty to the offence and was ordered to pay the 2025 registration fee of £3,664.60 and given 12 months conditional discharge.
In total all 11 offences brought hearing fines and costs over the last six weeks to £27,541.
This year's patrols have still shown unacceptably high levels of registration evasion in marinas and urbanised parts of the river.
SinceJanuarya total number of2,447boat registration checkshavebeenundertaken by officers on patrol,and a further £91,439in boat registration fees has been protectedbyenforcementactionwithout it becoming necessary to prosecute those evaders.
Colin Chiverton added:
Our officers are out all year long patrolling the river, checking the marinas and taking action against those who cheat their fellow boaters.
Our approach to non-registration on the Thames has changed - boat owners are given ample opportunity to register their boat however once a summons has been issued, it won't stop us taking them to court, even if they subsequently pay their registration fee.
More hearings are to come as, on river patrols earlier this year, Environment Agency enforcement officers discovered12unregistered vessels during spot checks in Bossoms Boat Yard (Oxford), Caversham and Walton Marina. These will be heard in court in 2026.
Similar toexcise duty for road vehicles, boat registration fees allow the Environment Agency to manage andmaintainmore than 600 miles of inland waterways across England, keeping them open and safe for thousands of boatersto enjoy.
Boats can be registered bycalling 03708 506 506 or visiting the River Thames boat registration page.
Background
Reoffenderssummoned tocourthearingson4Novemberand2December were:
* 4/11 - Brian HarveyfromWalton on Thames, Surrey, owner ofSEA DANCER
* 4/11-Russell Reedof Wimbledon, London,owner ofARRIS'ERE
* 4/11 -Leah MacfarlanefromWoking, Surrey, owner ofJOYSEE
*4/11-Duncan HaywardfromChertsey,Surrey,owner ofMAVERICK III
* 4/11 -Gregory O'MahonyfromSurbiton,Surrey, owner ofBRIENDA
* 2/12 - Leslie VallelyofTeddington,Middlesex, owner ofVIEW FINDER
*
2/12 -Leslie MarshofChertsey,Surreyowner ofOOPSIE DAISY
* During 2025, 30 offenders have been ordered to pay a total of £36,695 for registration offences.
* Although Environment Agency officers made 2,447 registration checks this year, lock keepers make checks of their own - this brings the total up to 4030 checks.
* Owners of powered or non-powered Boats (including paddleboards) must register their boats annually with the Environment Agency for use on the non-tidal River Thames.
* Boat registration on the Thames starts on 1st January every year. Any boats found on the water after that date, without having registered, may be liable to a fine.
* In September 2025,during a river wide census, Environment Agency officers recorded the locations of 10,147boats on thenavigation.
Cases were heard at Staines Magistrates' Court on 4 November and 2 December 2025
Boat Name
Owner
Plea
Fine
Comp
VS
Costs
Total
4 November
JOYSEE
Leah MACFARLANE Of Woking, Surrey.
Guilty in absence
£220
£473.58
£88.28
£275
£1,056.86
ARRIS`ERE
Russel REED Of Wimbledon
Guilty in absence
£220
£631.44
£88.28
£275
£1,214.72
LA BELLE VIEW
Klaus BEVERSLUIS Of Worcester Park, Surrey.
Guilty (12 Months Conditional Discharge)
Nil
£3,664.60
Nil
Nil
£3,664.60
BRIENDA
Greg O'MAHONY Of Surbiton, Surrey.
Guilty
£80
£766.27
£26
£250
£1,122.27
SEA DANCER
Brian HARVEY Of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Guilty in absence
£220
£631.44
£88
£275
£1,214.44
MAVERICK III
Duncan HAYWARD Of Chertsey, Surrey.
Guilty (12 Months Conditional Discharge)
Nil
£1183.93
Nil
Nil
£1,183.93
MOONDARA II
Jamie MARTIN Of Hatfield, Herts.
Guilty (12 Months Conditional Discharge)
Nil
Nil
£26
£250
£276.00
2 December
PISCATOR 2
Daniel LAINTON Of West Molesey, Surrey.
Proof in absence
£250
£394.65
£200
£275
£1,119.65
LAINTON DORY/THAMES WARRIOR
Daniel LAINTON Of West Molesey, Surrey.
Proof in absence
£250
£289.41
Nil
Nil
£593.41
VIEW FINDER
Leslie VALLELY Of Teddington, Middlesex,
Proof in absence
£330
£631.44
£140
£275
£1,376.44
OOPSIE DAISY
Leslie MARSH Of Chertsey, Surrey.
Proof in absence
£500
Nil (paid before court)
£200
£275
£975.00
TOTALS
£2,070
£8,666.76
£856.56
£2,150
£13,797.32
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
