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Police renew partnership powers to help safeguard population of one of Britain's most important geological and wildlife havens.

Carry on rangers: Another three years for Devon and Cornwall's Community Safety Accreditation Scheme with the Dartmoor Park Rangers

Date - 6th March 2019
By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle

 

A force has given a high priority stamp of approval to a trusted group of low-level crime fighters to protect one of Britain’s most important areas of natural beauty while “extending the reach” of the police family.

The Devon and Cornwall force has renewed police powers granted to rangers on Dartmoor National Park until 2022 to allow them to continue to support efforts to increase community safety and reduce anti-social behaviour in a region famed for its geological and wildlife importance.

Policing’s Community Safety Accreditation Scheme has been running since 2015 on Dartmoor and gives the park’s ranger service special status to deal with a wide range of issues.

The CSAS – a partnership geared to sharing intelligence and information – allows rangers to stop and direct traffic, help deal with illegal encampments and fires, join special constables on joint patrols, and supervise road closures during adverse weather conditions.

Since being accredited through the scheme the rangers have taken on a number of joint operations with the force and other agencies including targeting speeding, vehicle break-ins, red diesel testing, vehicle tax and insurance issues, off-road driving plus general awareness and advice.

Driving behaviour and parking can sometimes cause issues at some moorland beauty spots and rangers have the authority to challenge drivers and take names and details if they do not comply with the traffic direction of a CSAS-accredited person. Motorists who refuse would be committing an offence.

To use these powers, accredited rangers must be on duty in full uniform, displaying a CSAS patch on their uniform and possess a power card and police-issued ID.

Partnership Superintendent Jim Gale said: “The scheme reinforces our commitment to work in partnership with local organisations to provide a safer community and improve the quality of life in Devon and Cornwall, allowing these organisations to be recognised as part of the extended policing family.

“They are not a replacement for our neighbourhood policing team, but work in partnership to complement each other’s work.” 

Community and landscape management ranger Rob Steemson added: “The DNPA Ranger Service is pleased to be a part of this partnership to help make Dartmoor National Park a safer place for our residents and those that visit. 

“Our role in dealing with the many aspects of anti-social behaviour experienced in the national park, such as littering, vehicle brake-ins, irresponsible driving and illegal camping is enhanced through this joint working. 

“Although much of this work is tackling what is termed low-level crime, it nonetheless has a considerable impact on communities, visitors and the fragile Dartmoor environment. We look forward to another successful three years.”

CSAS manager Becki Brodest pointed to a number of benefits of the scheme including reassurance to members of the community of the training and vetting completed by the rangers. 

She added: “It also allows better communication and improved relationships between the police and partner agencies. 

“The accreditation of limited but targeted powers allows those accredited to be more effective in the role they already undertake, but more importantly assists with ensuring safer communities for all to live, work and visit.”

The 368 square miles of Dartmoor lays claims to the largest area of granite in Britain, covered by superficial peat deposits.

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[Ether + 1,432]

Sensible scheme 

[Radman + 2,165]

Seems like a great idea and some out of the box thinking from Devon and Cornwall Police. 

[Cathedral Bobby + 1,174]

In Scotland of course the Park Rangers of the Loch Lomond were made specials giving them full police powers.

Edited March 9, 2019 by Cathedral Bobby