News

Police are warning the public to steer clear of Folkestone's most famous fish.

Incidents around the world, such as swimmers being bitten in the US and reports of a man in Brazil being butted and killed by a bottlenose dolphin, the same species as Dave, have led to a rethink.

However, Dave hardly appeared to be a great risk to life and limb as it fished 30 yards off the pebble beach at Battery Point in Sandgate.

Dave the dolphin has been swimming off the town's coast for the past year has become so humanised that he now poses a danger to people, police have said.

There have been reports of hundreds of visitors approaching the dolphin. It was reported that a man had been seen trying to put his child on its back for a dolphin ride.

A spokesman said the child would have been "at considerable risk" if Dave had headed for deeper water.

Kent Police said there have been reports the fish has even stopped people from leaving the water.

The spokesman said: "In similar cases, dolphins like Dave start to display their dominance and that is when there is a likelihood of injury to both the dolphin and humans."

Local police have also had reports of small craft getting close to Dave because he is less fearful, which increases the chance of the dolphin being struck by a boat or a propeller.

Marine patrols are taking place over the next few days and police said action will be taken against anyone approaching the dolphin.

PC Andy Small, Rural and Environmental Crime Co-Ordinator, said: "Dave is a wild dolphin and cannot be compared to dolphins in various parts of the world where people can arrange to swim with them - as these have had an element of training.

"As we have stated before a wild dolphin has the ability to cause injury to a human and in the United States there have been fatalities where such interaction has taken place. This is why Dolphins should be treated with respect and the legislation is in place.

"Quite simply the best method of safely viewing Dave the Dolphin is clearly from the shoreline." He added.

Dolphins are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way act 2000) which makes it an offence to recklessly or intentionally harass a dolphin.

If there are any incidents that cause concern please contact the Kent Police Control Centre on 01622-690690 or during normal working hours PS Andy Small on 01622-654007