The Malta Ranger Unit, said that for two years it has highlighted with the Environment Ministry “the severe issues the environment in Gozo is facing without any Environmental Protection Unit Police on the island.”

However, the MRU insisted that “the situation is the same without any improvement.”

“The District Police are already overwhelmed with their tasked district duties,” the MRU said, “leading to environment related cases not becoming a priority.”

In addition to this, the MRU stated that, “the Police many times aren’t familiar with the legislations and how to deal with scenarios.”

The NGO warned that “due to no environmental police in Gozo, it’s nearly impossible to know what’s going on. The statistics won’t show the reality, because there is no Authority patrolling the countryside.”

“Our Rangers will start to increase our patrols in the Gozitan countryside and document the illegalities that degrade nature – night and day,” said the MRU.

The Malta Ranger Unit tagged Eco-Gozo A Better Gozo – asking “how much better without EPU Police?” As well as Minister Clint Camilleri – saying “it’s time to sort this out, don’t you think? Or are you leaving it up to NGOs to safeguard the nature of the island?”

The MRU also linked to the European Commission IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas – advising it that “this is how Malta’s Natura2000 sites are protected.”

Photo MRU: Marsalforn Valley

Permalink: Gozo still without Environmental Police, Ranger patrols will increase – MRU