A paddleboarder has been warned he could face a £1,000 fine for not having a river licence after being stopped by police and Environment Agency officers on the River Medway in Kent.
Incident on the River Medway
Ross Mathieson, 35, from Rochester, Kent, was paddleboarding with a friend on July 3 when they were approached by a joint patrol of Kent Police and the Environment Agency. The officers informed him that he needed a river licence to use his paddleboard legally, or risk a substantial fine.
Video footage of the encounter, which Mathieson posted online, has garnered over 607,000 views. In the clip, he can be heard asking the officers, 'You need a river licence to paddle a paddleboard? That's crazy.'
Licence Requirements
According to PaddleUK, a waterways or river licence costing £65 per year is required to canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard on most rivers and canals in England and Wales. Failure to hold a valid licence can result in a fine or being asked to leave the water. The licence fees contribute to the maintenance and cleaning of waterways, as well as repairs to flood damage.
Mathieson, who has owned his paddleboard for two years without being stopped before, expressed disbelief at the requirement. 'It was disbelief when they first approached me. I thought, 'Why are we being approached on paddleboards, and am I hearing this right, we need a licence?'' he said. 'He said it carries a £1,000 fine, and I said, 'Are you going to fine us then?' The officer said: 'No, you have to be caught a few times.''
Public Reaction and Impact
Mathieson described the licence requirement as 'ridiculous' and said he will 'absolutely not' purchase one, preferring to 'take his chances.' However, he acknowledged that the potential fine could be 'devastating' for some people. 'To some people, that fine could be devastating. I'm lucky enough that I just sit there and laugh at it,' he said.
The incident has sparked debate online, with many questioning the necessity of a licence for paddleboarding. Mathieson added, 'Where do you draw the line? If I turned up with a rubber ring, is that also a vessel that needs licensing?'
Official Response
An Environment Agency spokesman defended the licensing system, stating: 'We manage and maintain more than 600 miles of inland waterways across England, keeping them open and safe for thousands of boaters and others to enjoy. Registration fees for boats, canoes, kayaks, dinghies and paddleboards contribute a reasonable proportion towards the cost of the navigation services and facilities we provide for river users.'
Kent Police confirmed they were patrolling the area with the Environment Agency on July 3 but did not comment further on the specific incident.
