Illegal fishing' reported at under threat Swindon lake as patrols stepped up

Police have reported illegal fishing activity at Peatmoor Lagoon in Swindon, a site already under environmental threat. Officers from the West Swindon neighbourhood policing team are working with the Peatmoor Angling Club to tackle anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and unauthorized fishing. The alert follows a £150,000 restoration project launched to address worsening ecological conditions including widespread weed growth, poor oxygen levels, encroaching trees, depleted fish stocks and decades of accumulated silt. The lagoon’s decline dates back to 2023, when volunteers removed thousands of dead fish but did not establish a cause. The Angling Club stocks and manages the site, and police remind visitors that fishing requires a valid license and a day pass. Fishing at night is also prohibited, and patrols will continue to deter offences.