Dartmoor rangers sign up to police initiative

Dartmoor National Park (DNP) Rangers and Devon and Cornwall Police have just formally announced that they will be working in closer partnership through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).

CSAS was introduced through the Police Reform Act 2002 and enables each Chief Constable to authorise the use of targeted powers by trusted organisations, which contribute toward community safety, and help tackle crime and disorder, public nuisance and other forms of anti-social behaviour in co-operation within their force area.

Devon and Cornwall Police supports and runs its own Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS). The scheme underpins the Force’s commitment to work in partnership with local organisations in order to provide a safer community and improve the quality of life in Devon and Cornwall.

Dartmoor National Park Authority recognised that CSAS powers to “stop and direct traffic” would assist Rangers to keep the Moor safer. The embracing of CSAS has also enhanced the relationship between the Rangers and local policing teams. This strengthened partnership also lends itself to further reinforcing the positive working relationships that Park Rangers have built up with the local policing teams over many years and has contributed towards successful schemes such as Moor Watch – a Police led scheme aimed at targeting car crime on Dartmoor as well as raising awareness of missing persons.

Eleven Dartmoor National Park Rangers have been accredited through the CSAS scheme. All have met the national CSAS criteria of vetting and training standards to ensure that they are appropriately equipped to be designated with targeted powers which help them carry out their daily tasks more effectively.

Inspector Paul Morgan of Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'This is a prime example of how partnerships should work and includes formal powers to assist Dartmoor National Park Rangers to carry out their jobs more effectively.'

Dartmoor National Park Head Ranger Rob Steemson said: 'From our perspective one of the main benefits of joining the scheme was to enable greater access and to share information and intelligence with Devon and Cornwall Police. We spent two days training at the

Police HQ at Middlemoor, Exeter and now have extra powers to control traffic when the need arises and require the name and address of any driver or pedestrian who fails to follow appropriate directions.'