MOUNTAIN rescue teams say they have been left without insurance cover for some outdoor activities after a change in police policy which is now casting doubt on some major events.
Volunteers will not be covered when in attendance at various endurance events, such as hill races and sponsored triathlons, after Police Scotland said it would only cover rescue teams for emergency call-outs or training exercises.
One recent endurance running competition was cancelled on Arran at short notice due to the new regime and the Torridon Mountain Rescue Team had to pay for its own insurance to allow it to cover the Celtman Triathalon at the beginning of the month.
Meetings will be held about the Ben Nevis Race in September.
It comes after Police Scotland reviewed its policy after the shift from eight forces to one in the spring .
The body insists there has been no reduction in cover.
However, Miller Harris, secretary of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, the busiest in the UK, said "We would normally set up the Ben Nevis Race as a training exercise and always understood it to be covered.
"We would send in a training sheet prior to the event taking place.
"But what Police Scotland is now saying is these sorts of events will no longer be covered because they are dealing with third parties, and they can't respond to the training sheets or give any guarantees."
Mr Harris said the rescue team could not go out under the these circumstances.
He said: "So we have gone out and got top-up insurance, and the cost is really not great. But we fear this is the thin end of the wedge with Police Scotland."
Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said it was "a contemptible display of penny-pinching on the part of Police Scotland".
However, one of Scotland's most experienced rescue team leaders said the force's stance was correct.
John Grieve, of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, said: "Our policy is clear. We answer emergency call-outs and we train. We do not provide safety cover for outdoor events.
"We are constantly turning down requests.
"However, that's not what we are for and I don't think the police should have to indemnify those who do it."
On Arran, the Glen Rosa race was cancelled the day before it was due to be held, on June 15, after an issue with the insurance emerged.
A post on the Scottish Hill Running Facebook page said: "Tomorrow's Glen Rosa Race is cancelled thanks to Police Scotland who refuse to accept that the team is conducting a legitimate training exercise by supporting the event, as they have done for many years.
"Without cover, the Glen Rosa race cannot go ahead.
"This could have serious repercussions for any other hill races or events dependent on mountain rescue cover."
Andy Rockall, project manager of Scottish Mountain Rescue, said some teams had previously thought their attendance at events would be covered given that it was described as a training exercise.
However, Mr Rockall said in all probability the members were not insured.
Police Scotland shared that view. A spokeswoman said: "The insurance provided by Police Scotland matches the highest level of insurance cover previously provided by any of the eight former forces in Scotland and this has been communicated to members of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland who acknowledge this fact.
"Previously, teams may have understood that their members were covered by insurance under certain circumstances when in fact, this was not the case."
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