Water Bailiff appointments and warrants issued: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for:

i. - How many warrants have been issued to people to be empowered as Water Bailiffs appointment by Scottish Ministers between 2018-2019?

ii. - What arrangements are in place such as for Special Constables if the Water Bailiff is injured or worse during the course of his duty?

iii. - Please supply the public liability insurance document.

iv. - What welfare arrangements are in place to ensure these volunteers are maintained such as trauma caused during duty? Again Special Constables also volunteers are afforded health and wellbeing from Police Scotland.

v. - Please supply any information provided to an appointed Water Bailiff.

Response

I have set out some of the information you requested below. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained below.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for at items ii to iv above because responsibility for these matters is for the organisation for whom the bailiff works or volunteers. The Scottish Government is not responsible for these matters. This is therefore a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

With regard to your remaining questions:

i. - A total of 48 bailiff warrants were issued by Scottish Ministers in the two calendar year period 2018 (24) and 2019 (24). Of these, a total of 12 were new warrants and 36 were renewals. It is worth pointing out that Ministers appoint bailiffs in just three areas of Scotland where District Salmon Fishery Boards (DSFBs) are not in place. These cover the River Clyde, Loch Lomond and River Irvine areas. Bailiffs are appointed directly by DSFBs where these exist.

v. - The appointment letter that is sent to the nominating organisation provides a link to the 'Powers of Water Bailiffs' booklet which should be provided to all new bailiffs. The booklet can be accessed at https://www2.gov.scot/Publications/2004/11/20316/47363.

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.