BOAT owners in Watchet have been given a helping hand to cut maritime crime with the launch of a new scheme that should make criminals walk the plank.

Marina staff, local police and the Watchet Boat Owners Association are behind the Boat Watch initiative, which was officially unveiled on Saturday.

Members of the Watchet police beat team visited an existing scheme over the border in South Devon to get some tips on how crime could be cut following a spate of thefts of boat-related items over the last few months.

At the Watchet event, boat owners were invited to have their property recorded on the immobilise database and security marked using the Selecta DNA process, which allows valuable equipment to be identified by a unique microdot that can be traced back to the owner.

And to help both local boat owners and visitors to the harbour and marina areas, new Boat Watch warning signs have been put up in a bid to increase security.

Marina staff and local boat owners have also been given reflective jackets bearing the Boat Watch logo as a further deterrent to would-be thieves.

Representatives of the RNLI and coastguard teams were on hand at the launch to give advice about sea safety generally, along with the full Watchet police beat team - PC Lisa Rigby, SC Simon Bale and PCSO Linda Brooks.

A spokesman for the new scheme said the launch had gone very well.

"A large number of boat owners attended with their property and all were encouraged to record their items," he said.

"Visiting boat owners from around the Bristol Channel were also present, including many from South Wales who were impressed with the scheme and how Watchet was dealing with marine-related theft, encouraging them to visit more often as a safe and secure place to berth their boats."

The scheme is being funded by West Somerset Council and the Safer Somerset West Crime and Disorder Panel, with the marina and the WBOA paying for the Selecta DNA kits.

Anyone wanting to know more about the scheme, or to have their property marked, should call at the marina office.

Pictured from the left at the launch are SC Simon Bale, Martin Stevens (WBOA), Ray Venturer (WBOA), James Burnell (Watchet Marina) and PCSO Linda Brooks.

Photo: Steve Guscott