Some very important laws were accidentally deleted by civil servants

Defra has confirmed reports in the latest edition of Private Eye that civil servants have accidentally removed some vital laws.

In news that is almost impossible to parody, the Sea Fishing (Enforcement and Miscellaneous Provisons) Order 2015 from 8 February removed secondary legislation which gave the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) the power to investigate offences.

Due to election purdah, reinstanting these powers will be a job for the next government. In the meantime, a spokesperson for Defra tells i100.co.uk: "The Marine Management Organisation and local IFCAs will continue to enforce the Common Fisheries Policy around our coastline, and are maintaining the usual level of enforcement and spot checks."

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