The Malta Ranger Unit has said that it regularly goes to Gozo to “monitor environmental illegalities. This weekend we have a full team on site to monitor illegal construction in the rural areas, resulting in several reports.”

The Unit added that it would like to once again remind the Government that Gozo has no EPU Police, “although this had been pointed out to them for over a year.”

It argued that “not having EPU in Gozo means that environmental criminals enjoy 100% impunity.”

The Unit stressed that “the District Police can’t deal with environmental cases on top of the large amount of other cases already dealt with.”

“Stating that few environmental crimes on paper means nothing, when in reality there is no one to enforce it,” the MRU.

It also insisted that “the statistics aren’t reflecting the reality – Gozo is thriving with environmental crimes. We wish to see an equally great EPU team as Malta has, to operate in Gozo.”

“Having a specialised unit for the environment is a MUST,” the MRU said. “We will continue to demand this until it happens.”

The MRU concluded by saying that it will request a meeting with Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri to discuss this matter.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

Permalink: Gozo: An island without Environmental Protection Unit Police – MRU