MP rapped for Polish poaching claim

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Reading West MP Martin Salter claimed Poles and Eastern Europeans "have been stealing fish for gain or for the table".

Mr Salter spoke out following a warning that fish stocks in many British lakes were in danger of collapsing.

But Tory MP for Reading East Robert Wilson said in the last couple of years the city's Polish population has increased to about 12,000.

"I think there is a significant number of Polish people, who are struggling to get by and simply hitting out at them is not necessarily the best way to deal with the problem, which has been created by Government policy," he said.

"Poles and Eastern Europeans have made an enormous contribution to the local economy. This is one of the smaller examples of the huge problems of integrating large numbers of immigrants in a very small space of time.

"I am absolutely certain that there are Polish people who are going fishing for carp. However, I do not think they are doing it for profit. A number are doing it because they are too poor to buy food themselves."

The National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFC) said recent extreme weather had had devastating effects and poaching had also been reported.

Chairman of the Polish Social Club in Reading Zenek Rakowicz said Mr Salter's comments were unfair. "It is probably one or two people," he said. "Most Polish people, who I know fish, they do not take any fish from the water.

"They are not very keen because the water is not very clean. The Polish people that I know work and do not have time to fish."