Momentum supports Malta Rangers Unit petition calling for Environmental Police Unit in Gozo

Momentum has expressed strong support for a petition presented by the Malta Rangers Unit to Parliament, calling for the establishment of a dedicated Environmental Police Unit in Gozo. The organisation argues that the rise in environmental violations highlights a growing gap between existing regulations and their enforcement.

In recent weeks, both Malta and Gozo have seen repeated incidents of illegal dumping, habitat destruction, and increasing development pressures. According to Momentum, these are not isolated cases but signs of a wider systemic issue, where enforcement is failing to keep pace with the scale of environmental abuse.

While environmental laws are already in place, Momentum stressed that without consistent monitoring, timely intervention, and clear consequences, such regulations lose their effectiveness. The situation in Gozo is considered particularly urgent due to the island’s ecological sensitivity and limited enforcement resources.

The proposed unit would aim to strengthen on-the-ground enforcement, improve response times, act as a visible deterrent, and support existing authorities such as the Environment and Resources Authority and local councils.

Momentum representative Graziella Spiteri noted that Gozo reflects a broader national problem, warning that continued environmental degradation points to both individual wrongdoing and institutional shortcomings.

The organisation is urging Parliament and relevant ministries to act on the petition, invest in enforcement capacity, and ensure greater transparency, insisting that meaningful environmental protection requires consistent and credible action.

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