COLLABORATIVE WORK is underway to ‘future proof’ Scotland’s green spaces, with high visitor numbers to Scotland’s countryside expected from this Spring onwards.

Following last year’s initial Lockdown – which saw the public confined to their homes for months on end – there was a sharp surge in visitors to Scotland’s rural areas when restrictions were lifted, leading to nationwide reports of irresponsible behaviour in popular beauty spots.

Lessons have been learnt from the ‘chaos’ which erupted last summer, and a new Visitor Management Strategy Steering Group has been set up by Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing who is determined to prepare for the potential challenges which lie ahead.

Key representatives in the group include Visit Scotland, Nature Scot, Scottish Government, Local Authorities, both National Park Authorities, Forestry and Land Scotland and Police Scotland.

Different subgroups have been created which have been tasked with improving education and communications on responsible access, overseeing investment and infrastructure to cope with increased footfall and a focus on tackling and preventing problematic locations.

Six key areas of Scotland have been identified due to their differing demographic and geographical challenges plus overwhelming experiences from 2020; the North Coast 500, Cairngorm National Park, the ‘5 Lochs Road’ located in Perth and Kinross, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, East Lothian coastal route and the Pentlands Regional Park.

National rural crime coordinator Inspector Alan Dron is chair of the Prevention, Regulation and Reassurance subgroup and told The SF that the Scottish Government is keen for ‘tangible action not just talk’ in preparing for the challenges ahead.

“The public have now been in Lockdown on and off for almost a year and I am sure everyone is eagerly awaiting the lifting of restrictions,” said Inspector Dron. “The idea behind this new visitor management strategy is that rural organisations will work together to prepare and implement solutions to prevent, reduce and tackle potential situations that blighted so many areas of Scotland last year.”

He insisted that this new strategy will not just be a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction, but aims to develop long-term plans for the years to come.

“Hopefully, through working alongside different partners, we can welcome people back to the great outdoors, but try to make sure they are accessing the countryside responsibly,” he continued. “This will ensure those visiting get a better experience with hopefully some additional resources and facilities, as well as more visible presence from rangers and other authorities who will be on hand to assist.”

Looking back on developments in rural policing over the past year, Inspector Dron was pleased to report that joined up thinking has also been the key ingredient to another new initiative to crack down on cross-border crime between Scotland and the North East of England.

Operation Hawkeye launched last summer, which involved the partnering of police divisions either side of the Border to share real time information regarding rural crimes that involved stolen property, agricultural vehicles and plant equipment for example, with the aim of tackling those individuals and organised gangs who specialise in cross-border crime more effectively.

The Scottish Borders and its network of country roads provide a perfect backdrop for criminal groups, but Inspector Dron reported that the partnership between Police Scotland and the four English Constabularies has led to an increase in criminals being apprehended.

“For example, if a quad bike or trailer is stolen in Melrose or Haddington, through operation Hawkeye, control rooms are able to send the vital information to all of our different partners in the network which allows us to try and track criminals’ movements in real time,” Inspector Dron explained. “We know a high percentage of rural crime is being committed by individuals residing in the north east of England and over the last couple of months, numerous individuals have been identified, apprehended and charged for a number of rural crimes which have taken place throughout Scotland, with various items of property recovered mainly in the north east of England.”

He added that these individuals have been involved in the theft of quad bikes, trailers, tools and caravans plus also other crimes including bogus workmen/doorstep crimes, to name but a few.

“A rural environment offers more opportunities for criminals with less eyes and ears in the vicinity, less CCTV and policing often taking longer to respond due to geographical spread,” continued Inspector Dron. “However, Hawkeye is combatting these challenges and more criminal gangs are aware of the collaborative police presence in these areas.

“This year alone, we have had over 20 specific Hawkeye bulletins which have been shared between Police Scotland and our English counterparts with others now looking to our operation model with a view to strengthen their own forces.”

There has been further collaboration across rural Scotland with the creation of three further local partnerships against rural crime groups – taking the new tally to 14 partnerships nation-wide.

“One of our three latest editions includes the Scottish Borders, who recognised the need to have a rural partnership off the back of the success of Operation Hawkeye,” continued Inspector Dron. “West Lothian and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park have also joined the network.”

He went on to explain that one of the key focus areas between all the regional partnerships has been on cracking down on dog attacks on livestock, but this year, Police Scotland are keen to take a new approach to raising awareness to the public.

“We are planning on launching our livestock worrying campaign in late summer as opposed to this lambing season to do something a little different. We know by the summer, Lockdown is likely to have been lifted and it will be worth putting out a strong message to warn people heading to the countryside to be careful with their dogs. It should also tie in nicely with Emma Harper MSP’s amendment to the livestock attack and worrying Bill which will hopefully be implemented by then and is a great opportunity to highlight the new measures involved.

“Summer into Autumn is also a vital time in the calendar with farmers and crofters putting the tups to the ewes – there is a lot of activity on and off the fields and hills,” he continued. “The public are also likely to miss messages just now with Covid dominating the media, so it is good to keep people on their toes and raise awareness at other points of the year.”

From available figures Police Scotland have recorded a 13% reduction in the number of reported livestock attacks and worrying incidents from January – December 2020 when compared with the same timeframe for 2019.

“One of the key changes we are seeing and expect to be reflected in the figures this year are the number of incidents in which owners are present,” said Inspector Dron. “With more people leaving their homes with their dogs for lockdown walks in their local countryside, there has been a reduction in dogs with no-one present attacking livestock.”

Inspector Dron concluded by praising the joined-up thinking between local partnerships which has increased over the past year plus appealed to the public to continue reporting any incidents of rural crime to their local partnership against rural crime groups or Police Scotland.

“The more information that can be gathered on incidents across rural Scotland then the better picture we have of what is happening and the more effectively we can target actions to crackdown on rural crime.”