Some of the Operation Ironworks team

Police and park rangers will mount a six-month campaign to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in a national park.

The Operation Ironworks project will run for the third year in the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs national park. Three police forces will work with national park rangers and staff from the Forestry Commission to protect what they describe as some of Scotland’s iconic beauty spots.

The operation forms part of the national park authority’s Respect the Park programme.

Police officers on motorbikes will supplement patrols by the rangers and special constables. Central Scotland Police and the Tayside and Strathclyde forces will join the operation in the national park, which has been plagued by litter, road safety problems, wildlife crime, irresponsible lighting of fires and excessive noise.

A mobile police office will be used and police officers from the road-policing unit, dog section and underwater search unit will be involved, alongside community traffic wardens.

Chief Inspector Kevin Findlater, of Central Scotland Police, said: “This is the third year we have carried out this initiative and we will continue to build on the success of the previous two operations. Our overriding aim is to ensure the national park continues to be a safe, secure and enjoyable environment that is treated with respect by everyone who visits this stunning area.

“This year our approach will also be very much based around community policing. We have a team of community officers covering various villages in the national park and they have a vital role to play for those who reside here.

“The national park is understandably a major attraction for visitors and although the vast majority behave, there is a minority who are intent to spoil the experience for others by committing a variety of crimes and offences. It is those people we will be targeting.”

Loch Lomond, Loch Venacher and Loch Earn are included in the project.

Communities Inspector Judy Wilson of Strathclyde Police said: “We want to encourage visitors to enjoy the national park’s tremendous facilities responsibly and to buy into the Respect the Park campaign.

“The vast majority of visitors are extremely well behaved, but from our experience in previous years there are a small number of individuals who engage in antisocial behaviour.

A burnt-out car in the forest at Sallochy

“Our aim is to target those individuals through education and enforcement to alter their behaviour. As a result we will ensure that the vast majority of visitors enjoy their experience and are keen to return.”

Inspector Cathy MacDonald of Tayside Police said: “We will continue our efforts to address crime, disorder and antisocial issues and remain strong in not allowing the actions of the few to spoil the enjoyment and beauty of the national park for the local residents and visitors.

“We feel privileged to work in such a beautiful area of Scotland and local officers are looking forward to supporting their local communities at such an important time.”

Police say damage and disruption in the national park is often alcohol fuelled.

Fiona Logan, chief executive of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “Operation Ironworks has been a huge success over recent years and running the programme again means our residents and visitors can continue to enjoy living in, and visiting, this spectacular place even on our busiest summer days.

“We are delighted to continue the funding from the national park for this operation as its impact previously has been so significant and visible. We are looking forward to another busy and exciting summer season and are confident anyone coming to our park will have a fantastic experience. Operation Ironworks will inevitably help contribute towards this.”

The authority is also planning the controversial step of banning wild camping along the eastern shores of Loch Lomond, a move that would hit walkers on the West Highland Way, the most popular long-distance trail in Scotland.

A public consultation on the introduction of the proposed bylaws is currently underway.

Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour can be reported to any of the police or other agencies involved in Operation Ironworks or by ringing Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.