‘Frightened’ Exeter residents say unusual hobby should be banned after bomb scares

There have been calls to better regulate or completely ban magnet fishing in Exeter after three bomb scares in just six months which prompted an emergency response. The incidents have been described as “very frightening” and “extraordinarily disruptive” for local residents.

Last week, Colleton Hill near Exeter Quay was taped off by police and the Explosive Ordnance Department was called after a suspected grenade was pulled out of the River Exe. It follows two similar incidents occurring in the same area in December and February.

The explosives are understood to have been retrieved by an activity known as magnet fishing, in which magnets are attached to a rope and used to pull objects from the riverbed. The hobby has become increasingly popular in Devon over recent years, with enthusiasts claiming to have pulled up bikes, anchors, jewellery and even a Victorian safe.

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However, there are fears that it poses a risk to those who live near the river. Councillor Diana Moore, who represents the St David’s Ward, says she is concerned about both the costs involved and the safety risk. Exeter City Council has now said that the Harbour Master will be working on “a voluntary code of conduct for the activity”.

Cllr Moore said: “Unfortunately, this is the third time that the police and the bomb squad have had to be called out and when that happens, residents have to be evacuated from their homes which is a huge disruption and it’s huge public cost.

“If you’ve got an unexploded something and the bomb squad turns up, it’s very frightening. Then you might be evacuated from your home which is extraordinarily disruptive and you don’t know how long that will be. If they then decided that they would have to detonate it in order to make it safe, what happens then? Who pays if the windows are smashed in?

“There is likely still unexploded ordnance and other pieces of horrid metals that we don’t know about in the river bed. They’ve been there for 80 years now so if they haven’t caused a problem, it’s probably best not to cause one.

“There was recently a meter installed to monitor the height of the river so specialist divers go in to lay that across the riverbed. They’re experts who understand what these things might be and how you deal with it. It’s very different for someone going down in a summer evening with a big magnet on a piece of string and going ‘oh, this’ll be fun’. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

Last week and in February, locals were urged to remain in their houses as the items were removed by Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Department to be dealt with elsewhere. In December, the explosive that was found was a Second World War Mills Bomb, deemed “small and simple” enough by the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal unit to be detonated just a short distance away from where it was found.

Questions have also been raised about the costs related to any damage that could be caused. While the devices found in the River Exe have been small so far, the University of Exeter lost a court battle with insurers two years after workmen discovered a 1,000kg bomb on campus.

The detonation, which had to be carried out in situ, prompted the evacuation of around 2,600 properties and resulted in significant damage to a number of homes. However, the High Court ruled in favour of insurance company Allianz due to a “war exclusion” clause. In his ruling, Judge Nigel Bird stated: “The dropping of the bomb is an act of war and so the loss suffered is excluded from cover.”

Cllr Moore went on: “I’ve previously raised [the issue of magnet fishing] with the police and the Harbour Master and the Council who are responsible for waterways. I then raised it in Council as a question earlier in the year and I was told that it’s beneficial to clear out debris from the riverbed and there generally isn’t a problem.

“I can see that there are benefits in clearing up environments of the trash that we leave there and chuck in the river and I can also see that it’s quite fun seeing what you might fish up.

“I’m concerned because a couple of years ago the university discovered an unexploded bomb that had to be blown up and they recently lost a court case and they weren’t covered by the insurance. So if a hand grenade is pulled out and it explodes, who’s going to cover the householders’ insurance?

“The Council who is responsible for waterways is not taking this sufficiently seriously enough. I’ve spoken with the Angling Association and others and you can regulate it. You can issue a licence and then people buying a licence can then prove that they are insured. If they can’t prove that they’re insured then they get no licence. It’s something that is done elsewhere.

“In areas where people live, we absolutely have to make sure that people are kept safe.”

A spokesman for the City Council said: “Our Harbour Master has engaged with a local magnet fishing group and we will be working on a voluntary code of conduct for the activity. We want to work with the enthusiasts who do magnet fishing to ensure they act sensibly and sympathetically to the local environment.”

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