Police are expressing frustration at the lack of ticketing powers which make prosecuting boating offences a bureaucratic nightmare.

The issue is similar to problems which currently make the seatbelt law virtually unenforceable because Police have to complete a mountain of paperwork rather than simply issue a ticket.

That loophole is being addressed by Government in new regulations set to come in this month.

But one Police source said lack of ticketing powers for Marine Police had been complained about for years but successive Governments had done nothing.

As a result many people ended up getting cautioned rather than prosecuted.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said Government is looking at general water safety and had set up a panel to discuss recommendations.

He told : ?If, after this panel meets, that emerges as a significant concern we will move to fix it.? understands the problem was supposed to be dealt with by the Prosecution of Offences bill which was dropped because it was incompatible with existing legislation.

?They are supposed to do something to look into it,? said a Police source. ?As of now there?s nothing.

?We have not been able to ticket people for offences.?

If a boater is suspected of an offence ? typically not carrying safety equipment ? officers board the boat. If an offence has been committed the officers take details and type charges sheets, a summary of evidence and two statements.

The information and summons has to be signed by a Magistrate and the papers sent to the offender. If the post fails to deliver the summons an officer will have to go and serve the papers themselves.

?We have to serve the summons for whoever we booked six months ago,? said the officer. ?It?s too much paperwork.?

He said ticketing powers should have been the same as those dealing with motoring offences when the tickets first came out more than 15 years ago.

Police said boaters caught over the alcohol limit are arrested and taken in shore by Police who also bring in their boat.