X File Claims Loch Ness Monster Beyond Doubt

2:13pm UK, Tuesday April 27, 2010

Tim Hewage, Sky News Online

The existence of the Loch Ness Monster was "beyond doubt", according to a 1930s police report that has just been published.

Was Nessie caught on camera?

 

 

The 1930s government 'X' file about the elusive Nessie has been released by the National Archives of Scotland (NAS).

In it William Fraser, the then-chief constable of Inverness-shire, wrote to the Scottish Office raising concerns over the creature's safety.

He said: "That there is some strange creature in Loch Ness now seems beyond doubt.

"But that the police have any power to protect it is very doubtful."

In 1933, following a number of public sightings and dodgy pictures, the Scottish Office was asked to confirm the existence of a monster or sea serpent in Loch Ness.

Though not as convinced as Mr Fraser, ministers did propose that "reliable observers" be placed around the Loch to get further photographic evidence of the sightings.

If the monster's existence was then proven, the next step would be to trap it without injury - but given the size and depth of Loch Ness this could prove a difficult task.

The records go on to reveal that as the monster's reputation spread it was decided to let the legend grow with it and any real scientific attempt to discover what may have lurked in the Loch's depths was shelved.