Rangers petition parliament for environmental police unit on Gozo
'Gozo should benefit from the same level of environmental protection and enforcement as Malta', says ranger unit
The Malta Ranger Unit (MRU) has lodged a parliamentary petition calling on the government to immediately establish a police Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) on Gozo.
The petition follows repeated calls from the rangers over the years for an EPU to be established on Gozo, which they have in the past described as “thriving with environmental crime”.
In the petition, the rangers noted that the west coasts of Gozo and Comino include several Natura 2000 sites – a network of protected areas across the EU – and other sensitive sites requiring “continuous monitoring and effective enforcement”.
Emphasising that illegal dumping of waste and other illegalities “often occur in remote areas”, requiring specialist knowledge of environmental laws, the rangers stressed the need for a dedicated police unit specialised in environmental enforcement.
“While Malta already has a Police unit dedicated to environmental crimes, known as the Environmental Protection Unit, Gozo currently does not benefit from the same specialised service.”
Describing Gozo as a “natural heritage asset and one of the most valuable resources of the Maltese islands”, the rangers warned that insufficient enforcement could encourage further abuse, “with serious consequences for the environment and for future generations”.
The rangers called on Parliament to recognise the need for more effective enforcement in Gozo, establish a police EPU on the island and ensure the unit is provided with the necessary training and resources to carry out its task.
“Gozo should benefit from the same level of environmental protection and enforcement as Malta”, the rangers said, stressing the absence of an EPU “creates a disparity... despite Gozo including a significant number of environmentally sensitive sites and protected areas”.
Noting the island’s sustainable tourism appeal, the rangers said protecting its environment would deliver direct benefits to the local community and support the island’s development.
“The establishment of a specialised police unit dedicated to environmental protection in Gozo is no longer simply an option, but a necessity.”