Neighbourhood Watch Scotland and the Scottish Partnership Against Rural crime are asking for your help in protecting all mobile phone masts in your area. Attacks have been widely reported in news coverage and loss of service to communities can have wide-ranging consequences particularly during the current Coronavirus situation.
In light of recent criminal damage to telephone masts, Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) is asking assistance from anyone located within particularly rural communities and locations to try and prevent further incidents happening in Scotland.
In these unprecedented times, you may be aware of misinformation spreading on social media regarding 5G and an alleged link to the COVID-19 pandemic with some social media groups calling for criminal damage to telecommunications infrastructure. This has resulted in some random acts of vandalism and wilful fire-raising to a variety of masts as there is no way of telling if a mast is 5G or otherwise. At a time when critical sectors are focusing all their efforts to fight this pandemic, any damage to the mobile infrastructure could have significant implications for these sectors, such as a loss of communication or vital systems.
Often located in rural or remote areas, if as an essential worker travelling to and from work, whilst taking any permitted daily exercise or if as a landowner with a mast on your land, if you observe an individual(s) or vehicle(s) at or near such sites who do not appear as if they are from a relevant telecommunications company, please note any relevant details, a description and any relevant vehicle registration number then pass the information onto Police Scotland via 101 or if a crime is on-going 999.
Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through the non-traceable Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org