Police investigate fishery owner over 'No Eastern Europeans' sign

The owner of a fishing lake who put up a sign banning Eastern Europeans is being investigated by police. Eddie Whitehead, who owns Dog Lane Fishery in Napton-on-the-Hill, Warwickshire, said he put the sign up after £10,000 worth of carp was stolen. He said he believed people from Eastern Europe visiting the lake before closing time were responsible and he wanted to protect his livelihood.

Police said they had received complaints the sign was racist. Mr Whitehead, 75, said the fishery had a strict catch and release policy and that he explained the rules to all fisherman who used the lake. He said he was not a racist and had put up the bright green sign, which read "No Eastern Europeans", four months ago.


Photo from SWNS.

He said: "A lot of Eastern Europeans come in late afternoons, very often before closing time, and they're taking the fish away. Over in Poland or wherever they come from it's a speciality that what they catch they do eat but they've got to realise they're in England and they can't do it here. It's just cost me £10,000 to restock the lakes and I need to make my living."

Mr Whitehead said police officers had visited the fishery last week and ordered the signs be taken down. Warwickshire Police confirmed its officers had been to visit and had now launched an inquiry. A spokesperson for the force said: "The matter is currently being investigated to establish if any offences have been committed. All allegations of racially motivated crime are treated seriously and are fully investigated."