French Creek concerns
- Thread starter Augie
- Start date
Unfortunately DFO can't charge for stolen traps as theft is a criminal code offense and falls outside their authorities best they could do is if seeing them pull the traps charge for fishing unlabeled or wrong labelled traps/too many traps seize and give back to rightful owner.
Lone_fisherman
Member
Yes they can. My buddy is DFO and he has forwarded a crown brief for theft.
Which office does your friend work out of?
Lone_fisherman
Member
Steveston
Interesting I have friends in DFO on the island and they said they couldn't charge for theft either just fishing unmarked gear, maybe they can take the information and forward the file to the RCMP or charge for interfering with a lawful fishery.
@CRGreg you seem well versed in this, can DFO charge for theft or is that a record and pass info off to RCMP matter
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Nope. People will post on forum and Facebook assuming it will be fixed. Social media (unfortunately does nothing) is great but this issue still remains how many people simply don't call anything in. This comes up at are SFAC meeting in Area 17 with comments from CO's.
The detachment can't respond to everything. The more complaints about a problem the better. It all gets entered in, and takes minutes to do.
BTW I hope you called this in, and a bunch of you should do it. More complaints more likely a response.
Gong Show
Well-Known Member
In British Columbia, only a crown prosecutor can approve charges.
Peace Officers, including DFO officers, submit a Report to Crown Counsel, which outlines the evidence and the charges being recommended.
I cannot remember off the top of my head if DFO officers can recommend charges for theft and other Criminal Code offences, or just Fisheries Act offences.
Many times, I see RCMP and DFO officers in a boat together, I assume it is for handling both CC and FA offences, through the different forces.
Fishery Officers are designated Peace Officers under the Criminal Code while undertaking their duties. Yes , in theory, a Fishery Officer can put forward Theft charges to Crown. In reality it is not within DFO's mandate and would be best handled by the RCMP or Police of Jurisdiction
Big Green Machine
Well-Known Member
Thank you for clarifying. I find it a little annoying when a person says they are going to file criminal charges against someone. it appears they learned of this by watching too many American reality cop shows. Police can investigate, detain but only recommend charges.
Aces
Well-Known Member
It was be a shame if he came back to some flat tires
ExFlyGuy
Well-Known Member
Maybe a picture of the truck would help...
MikePA
Well-Known Member
As we've all seen many times, having money as well as morals are not mutually exclusive.
Brando
Well-Known Member
Valve core tools are cheap and effective
