Loch Lomond

A SUCCESSFUL joint operation to reduce antisocial and irresponsible behaviour in Scotland’s first national park is under way again for its 11th year.

Operation Ironworks brings together Police Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority and Forest Enterprise Scotland to work together to ensure everyone can enjoy a safe summer in one of Scotland’s most spectacular areas.

The focus of the operation is to provide high profile mobile and foot patrols in popular countryside locations, including the islands on Loch Lomond.

Since it began in 2007, the partnership has successfully reduced issues of anti-social behaviour from littering, drunken disorder, vandalism and petty theft through to more serious criminal behaviour such as violence and irresponsible use of vehicles.

The operation also helps to educate and promote responsible behaviour to ensure the safety of all visitors wherever possible.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park attracts around four million visitors a year, with the particularly busy time coming during the summer months.

While the vast majority of people enjoy the national park responsibly, the high volume of visitors, particularly to the most accessible areas of the park, sometimes leads to incidents of irresponsible behaviour which can have a negative impact on others, the environment and themselves.

Operation Ironworks has helped to reduce the extent of these types of incidents and will seek to build on that success this year.

Inspector Jo Jollie of Callander police station said: ‘Operation Ironworks is an important initiative for police and partners, given the millions of visitors to the national park and the vast area it covers.’