Special arrivals in the Cairngorms National Park
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Police Scotland’s first Special Constables dedicated to tackling wildlife crime in the strath and wider Cairngorms National Park are now on patrol.
The Scottish Government and the park authority is funding the pilot project for the five officers who took up their new duties on Friday.
They are based across the three Police Scotland divisions in the national park area and will concentrate on wildlife and rural crime issues.
The constables will engage with other agencies to prevent wildlife crime and build on existing relationships with those living and working in the Cairngorms National Park.
Detective Chief Superintendent David McLaren, from Police Scotland, said: “Tackling wildlife crime in Scotland is something that Police Scotland takes very seriously.
“Our priority should be preventing these crimes in the first place and we can only do this through strong partnership working and with the help of the public.
“It is our hope that by having this additional policing resource within the Cairngorms National Park we will be able to deter wildlife criminals.
“By building good relationships with those using the park, for work or leisure, we will also seek to better educate the public in identifying and reporting suspicious activity.”
Grant Moir, Cairngorms National Park Authority chief executive, said: “Wildlife crime is unacceptable and damages the reputation of the Cairngorms as an outstanding national park for nature.
“I am pleased to see the start of the special constable pilot with Scottish Government and Police Scotland to tackle this issue but, of course, I would much prefer that this sort of resource was not needed to tackle an issue that should not be happening in 21st Century Scotland.
“This is just part of the work that we are all undertaking to tackle this issue and the CNPA look forward to working closely with the Special Constables and Police Scotland.”
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “Scotland’s wildlife is precious and a huge part of our national identity, and these additional officers will be a valuable resource in tackling wildlife crime in the Cairngorms National Park.
“I announced this programme following a report that found many of our golden eagles are disappearing in suspicious circumstances.
“Golden eagles are in the news again with reports of another missing bird which further underlines the importance of this work.
“It is my hope that the success of this pilot scheme will allow us extend it more widely across Scotland. We are absolutely determined to crack down on those who commit crime against our wildlife.”
Scottish Land & Estates has said the new special constables will provide a valuable additional resource to the region.
David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The work of Police Scotland in preventing and addressing all forms of wildlife and rural crime is hugely important to Scottish Land & Estates’ members and we welcome the additional resource that will be made available through this pilot project.
“We value the professionalism and accountability of the existing police presence in the park who not only investigate crime but play an important role in building relationships with land-based businesses around the Cairngorms that helps to prevent crime in the first place.
“The special constables, working under the control of full-time officers, can help to tackle different forms of wildlife crime and rural crime such as thefts, livestock worrying and flytipping.
“Whilst recorded wildlife crime in the CNPA area has been declining and is now at a low level, aided by collaboration between police, the park authority and a range of stakeholders, there is a need to maintain progress on this matter and we and our members look forward to working with the special constables to help achieve that in the months and years ahead.”
