26 March 2010

 

Three police forces are working in conjunction with National Park Rangers and the Forestry Commission Scotland for the third year running to protect some of Scotland’s iconic beauty spots.

 

Operation Ironworks is a six-month initiative led by Central Scotland Police and is run in conjunction with the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and Forestry Commision Scotland along with Strathclyde and Tayside Police forces.

 

The campaign, which launches on Friday April 2, is aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour within the National Park area and is also part of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority’s Respect The Park programme.

 

Operation Ironworks will provide high profile patrols by officers, special constables and National Park Rangers as well as police patrols on motorbikes. Officers from the Road Policing Unit, Dog Section and Underwater Search Unit will also be active in the area.

 

The mobile police office will also be used at various locations to ensure officers reach the heart of the communities and community traffic wardens will ensure traffic problems are kept to a minimum.

 

The three forces will carry out various initiatives targeting antisocial behaviour issues which are often alcohol fuelled including damage to property, irresponsible fires, litter, road safety and wildlife and environmental crimes as well as noise disturbance.

 

National Park police officer, Central Scotland Police’s Constable Paul Barr, will deal with all aspects of wildlife and environmental crime within the whole of the National Park area.

 

Leading the operation Chief Inspector Kevin Findlater, of Central Scotland Police, said: “This is the third year we have carried out this initiative and we will continue to build on the success of the previous two operations. Our overriding aim is to ensure the National Park continues to be a safe, secure and enjoyable environment that is treated with respect by everyone who visits this stunning area.

 

“This year our approach will also be very much based around community policing. We have a team of community officers covering various villages in the National Park and they have a vital role to play for those who reside here.

 

“The National Park is understandably a major attraction for visitors and although the vast majority behave, there is a minority who are intent to spoil the experience for others by committing a variety of crimes and offences. It is those people we will be targeting.

 

Ironworks will cover Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park which takes in areas of scenic beauty such as Loch Lomond, Loch Venacher and Loch Earn.

 

Fiona Logan, Chief Executive of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “Operation Ironworks has been a huge success over recent years and running the programme again means our residents and visitors can continue to enjoy living in, and visiting, this spectacular place even on our busiest summer days.  

 

“We are delighted to continue the funding from the National Park for this operation as its impact previously has been so significant and visible. We are looking forward to another busy and exciting summer season and are confident anyone coming to our Park will have a fantastic experience. Operation Ironworks will inevitably help contribute towards this.”

 

Stuart Chalmers, Communities, Tourism and Recreation Manager for Forestry Commission Scotland, said: “This partnership has been very successful in its first two years and we are happy to be involved in maintaining that impetus and hopefully repeating this success in the coming year.”

 

Inspector Cathy MacDonald, of Tayside Police, said: “We look forward to working with our partner agencies again during the summer months and building on the success of the last year.

 

“We will continue our efforts to address crime, disorder and antisocial issues and remain strong in not allowing the actions of the few to spoil the enjoyment and beauty of the National Park for the local residents and visitors. We feel privileged to work in such a beautiful area of Scotland and local officers are looking forward to supporting their local communities at such an important time.”

 

Communities Inspector Judy Wilson, of Strathclyde Police, said: “The Community Policing Teams of Lomond and Lomond North will continue to work closely with our colleagues at Central Scotland Police, Tayside Police and the National Park Authority Rangers to support Operation Ironworks. We’ll do this by carrying out joint activities with National Park Rangers and by undertaking high visibility bike and foot patrols.

 

“We want to encourage visitors to enjoy the National Park’s tremendous facilities responsibly and to buy into the Respect the Park campaign. 

 

“The vast majority of visitors are extremely well behaved, but from our experience in previous years there are a small number of individuals who engage in antisocial behaviour.  

 

“Our aim is to target those individuals through education and enforcement to alter their behaviour. As a result we will ensure that the vast majority of visitors enjoy their experience and are keen to return.”

 

To report matters of antisocial behaviour any of the agencies involved can be contacted or information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.