Farmers and landowners in the Ayrshire and Arran area are being warned by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to check the identity of anyone claiming to be a SEPA officer.
SEPA has received calls from concerned farmers about bogus officials. Men approached the farms, carried out ‘inspections’ and then confiscated materials, claiming they were unsafe.
Ralph Pottie of SEPA encouraged to farmers to ask for ID. He said: ‘This is a worrying situation. It is highly unusual for a SEPA officer to want to remove any material, other than occasional soil or water samples. All SEPA staff carry appropriate identification and we encourage any farmer or landowner to ask to see it, especially if they don’t recognise the officer.
‘Anyone with concerns can also call the SEPA Ayr Office on 01292 294000 to check out the details of any officers visiting them.’
All SEPA officers carry ID badges with their name, position and office location. Any person who cannot provide this identification should not be allowed access to farmyards or land.
