Admiral calls Britain's plan to control fishing waters ‘amazingly complacent’

Lord Alan West says vessels involved in fisheries enforcement are 'very, very few', with one recently diverted on long Caribbean tour

Britain's plan to enforce its new control of fishing waters is "amazingly complacent", according to a former first sea lord and Royal Navy admiral, who said the three vessels used were far too few.

The government announced on Sunday that it was "taking back control" of the waters between six and 12 nautical miles from the British coast, by leaving a treaty called the London Convention. But Admiral Lord Alan West said on Monday that Britain would be a "laughing stock" if it was unable to enforce the new rules.