Police rebut BirdLife allegations
The police this year found 81 people breaching hunting and trapping regulations and another nine breaching the Arms Ordinance.
They would all be arraigned, the police said.
Referring to comments by BirdLife, which said that the police were ill -equipped and unable to control illegalities, the police said they also seized 33 protected species and 295 rounds of ammunition, several bird callers and nets.
“Contrary to the allegations made by BirdLife Malta, all police officers are committed to enforcing and upholding the law.
“Such a commitment is not only focused on illegal hunting or illegal trapping but is also addressed to all kind of criminality.”
The police said it was erroneous to conclude that only officers from the Administrative Law Enforcement Section were responsible for enforcing hunting and trapping regulations.
District officers were also regularly scouring the countryside together to curb possible abuse.
“BirdLife Malta would surely appreciate that they are not the sole source of information to the police,” the police said.
“Irrespective who the sources are, police officers have to assess and evaluate all the information received and act upon it.
“It would be presumptuous to expect police resources to be everywhere at the same time.”
The police said it was thanks to the cooperation of the public that during March and April, 11 individuals were apprehended breaching hunting regulations.
Another 57 others were brought to book for breaching trapping regulations and seven for breaching the Arms Ordinance. Moreover, 15 firearms, including four that were unregistered, were seized.
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31 Comments
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Jurgen Bugeja
Apr 24th 2010, 16:18
@P.Agius
Nista' naccertak li l-FKNK mhi qed taccetta l-hadd fl-ghaqda li jikser il-ligi.Tipprovax titfa' tajn fuq l-ghaqda ghax s'issa dejjem imxiet b'ghaqal tremend u b'hekk intrebhet il-kawza kontra Malta.Nista' nassigurak li kieku xi gvern barrani mexa' mal-kaccaturi u n-nassaba kif mexa' l-gvern Malti kieku xebghu isiru protesti kbar u tkissir imma l-FKNK s'ISSA imxiet bil-ghaqal u xi kultant izzejjed. Welldone FKNK.
V Falzon
Apr 24th 2010, 11:57
Unless a special Wildlife Crime Unit is set up, the police will never be in control where illegal bird hunting is concerned.
Until then, thank you BirdLife for your continued vigilance. Thanks also to concerned and civilised members of the public who report rampant rambos.
Anthony Formosa
Apr 24th 2010, 11:05
After receiving the guarantee from the highest authorities of Malta, the police commissioner should use all his resources on the hunting and trapping issue, Illegal hunting and trapping must be the priority for this country to please BLM/CABS, meanwhile other serious illegalities are on the run, and to make matters worse and a better life for traffickers we give the drug addicts free syringes.
David Cockcroft
Apr 24th 2010, 10:43
Hunting and trapping seems to be a huge issue in Malta. As a British journalist I'd be interested to learn more.
If anyone could assist me by leaving comments in the following article link so that I can view your thoughts it would be much appreciated.
Thank you
http://sportales.com/soccer/keane-to-impress/
John Matthews
Apr 26th 2010, 17:25
Dear David. First of all I suggest you approach this subject with an open mind. Research the FACTS & THE SCIENTIFIC FIGURES and not the hearsay so called "evidence" put forward by ANY party. The Maltese hunter/trapper has a very bad name worldwide, usually due to propaganda put forward by the anti hunting fraternity. However as previously stated, if you research the subject honestly and fairly, you will come up with a very interesting article, possibly one which will do Malta some good.
Anthony Formosa
Apr 24th 2010, 10:33
Please read what BLM / CABS have to say about our police:
Furthermore, the BirdLife Malta office receives numerous reports of illegal hunting and trapping from members of the public and law-abiding hunters who are reluctant to pass the information on to the police. The reasons given are either that the police will not respond to their reports, or that they know that there are many hunters within the police force and that they do not feel that the police will arrest these individuals. [In some cases, members of the public claim that the poachers themselves are police or are relatives of the police. While this cannot normally be verified, on the 18th of April 2008, a BirdLife Malta Spring Watch team in Gozo filmed two poachers hunting in the closed season and wearing balaclavas to conceal their identity. When the poachers were apprehended, one was identified as a policeman from Malta. The case is on-going.
I this the way how BLM thanks our police force, as usual they like to generelize everyone.
Michael Vella
Apr 24th 2010, 10:04
Simply because the police caught a couple of people red handed breaking the law does not mean that they have enough tools for the job. Catching a drug dealer does not mean the supply of drugs to the country suddenly stops. Same reasoning catching 57 + 11 people hunting illegally does not mean that they have had much success, it simply means that the police are taking action. But is this action enough or is it just the tip of the iceberg? I am not saying that the ALE is not performing an excellent job, all i am saying is that judging by the recent acts of a couple of thugs, it appears that with more resources the number of people caught hunting illegally would most definately increase significantly. Alternatively, increase the severity of fines/punishments handed out to these poachers so that atleast before they pull their trigger on a protected species, they could considerthe consequences of their stupid actions.
G.Pisani
Apr 24th 2010, 09:37
Everytime I read comments from Hunters here against BLM, I always confirm that all hunters are the same, they don't want enforcement, they want to do what ever they please and shoot anything that flies.
Hunters say they are against poachers, well BLM is only AGAINST ILLEGAL HUNTING not the law abiding hunters. So law abiding hunters should join BLM not defame them but they don't exist in Malta.
Police should do more, arriving one hour after an incident is not good enough. BLM should be accompanied by undercover cops.
Well done BLM and Dr.Gonzi for keeping your foot down.
Chris Finch
Apr 24th 2010, 09:35
The FKNK have made exactly the same allegations about the Police and law enforcement in the past also.
On another note, if the police have arrested and charged all these people for illegalities, why have we not heard of any single one of them having their FKNK or other minor hunting organisation membership revoked? Where is the zero tolerance to illegalities we have heard so much about? Or is it just a zero tolerance approach to those trying to expose the illegalities and those who want to hunt legally this spring?
D.Caruana
Apr 24th 2010, 10:45
Chris Finch,
Your comment here proves how anti FKNK you and your clan are!
With this sort of attitude we will get nowhere!
Carmen V.Gauci
Apr 24th 2010, 09:22
I am sure the police do their utmost, however the ratio of police vs hunters/trappers is disproportionate. THAT IS A FACT . Out of 12,000 licensed hunters the police caught 81 breaching hunters and trappers in a year. This figure of 81 is far too low. If the police want to catch hunters and trappers they should park their cars early in the morning next to any spot in Malta with a bit of trees and surely enough the hunters will start creeping out at 5am, I bet you you'll double the 81 figure.
s schembri
Apr 24th 2010, 09:19
The figures reported by the police are just a drop in the ocean.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Apr 23rd 2010, 23:56
At long last the POLICE have finally proved Birdlife wrong. Meglio tardi che mai. This is your chance Birdlife. There are only 23 hunters with their guns, the rest are at home.
Now the public can distinguish between the poacher and the hunter.
Any illegalities have to be directed and blamed to anyone except the hunters.
Birdlife will soon be proved wrong again because tllegal hunting has nothing to do with the opening of the season. With the exception of 23 hunters the season is still closed and quoting Birdlife there should not be any illegalities. Time will soon tell. Wait till may for the migration of honey buzzards, bee eaters etc and again Birdlife will be proved wrong/
I am still expecting the out vome of the Miziep investigation. Can the police tell us how many birds, not pieces, were actually found in Miziep by Birdlife?
The public has a right to know because the report made international headlines and the image of Malta is at stake..
Noel Cutajar
Apr 23rd 2010, 23:54
The police this year detected 81 people breaching hunting and trapping regulations and another nine the Arms Ordinance.
Let us hope that they were accused under the Arms Act as the Arms Ordinance was repealed in 2005!!
r sammut
Apr 23rd 2010, 22:47
CABS extremism makes them see red in everything, challenge individuals and blatantly trespassing private property. They constantly criticise the Police and Government as if they have a divine right to rule over the land. CABS are just here to shame Malta, full stop.
Statements as above uncover the deceptive tactics of Birdlife, trying to force-feed the public their petty stunts. All along our police force has been doing a sterling job, without the much fanfare that Birdlife crave for!
Antoine Grima
Apr 23rd 2010, 22:46
AT LAAASSSTTTTT . Nice to here something from the police force because i was starting to think that the island's security was left up to BLM and friends.I am Maltese and expect to be policed by Maltese
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 23rd 2010, 21:05
It is nice to see that the Malta Police are doing their job, contrary to what BLM have been insisting. Keep it up! You have been unjustly insulted by the antis for far too long.
I once again urge the police to ensure that CABS and others are "clean" while roaming the countryside. Notwithstanding that I have, on various occasions, asked BLM / CABS officials and others to confirm this, nobody has given such guarantee!
P Agius
Apr 23rd 2010, 22:27
Can you inform us how many of these hunters were banned from FKNK?
Eric Camilleri
Apr 23rd 2010, 21:02
BLM you are outdated in making such a statement. You are misinformed. The Arms Ordinance does not exist since August 2006 and has since been superseded by the Arms Act 2005.
Nyal Xuereb
Apr 24th 2010, 07:46
Mr. Camilleri, you are perfectly correct. And you know why BLM are misinformed? They have their heads buried in the sand looking only to eradicate all hunting in Malta. They probably don't even know that hunting regulations and all other firearms laws fall under the same act. They do not aknowledge that the Police force has to enforce all the laws. They think the Police are their sidekicks who run around looking for hunting offences. They probably don't even know the vast range of hobbies and sports the arms act has to offer. Hunting is probably only a small percentage of all the arms-related sports practiced on these islands.
John Matthews
Apr 23rd 2010, 20:50
Unless I have misenterpreted this letter, Birdlife are now impliyng that the police are not doing their job in a correct manner. What's their (BLM) next move? I expect it to be non factual as per their previous statements. @ all the antis. Why don't you all look at BLM's statements and then form an honest opinion? I leave it up to you whether you are being hoodwinked or not. Honesty will eventually tell.
Adrian Cachia
Apr 23rd 2010, 20:39
I believe the Police did detect people breaching hunting and trapping regulations...but I also believe there are a lot of other people breaching the regulations...the occasional oddshot is difficult to detect but it does happen...certain areas like M'Scala, Zabbar, Xghajra are not monitored enough.
Anthony Formosa
Apr 23rd 2010, 20:32
So contrary to what BLM always state, the police are doing their job well, however I also have to sympathise with the trappers that although they received a written guarantee that their passion will remain, the same guarantee turned into criminals.
Jason Borg
Apr 23rd 2010, 20:37
Tinsiex li l-FKNK qalet li se jkollha zero tolerance u mhux simpatija ghal min jikser il-ligi.
salvu abela
Apr 23rd 2010, 21:22
@ Jason Borg,
Int fejn taf jekk wara kollox ikunux membri tal FKNK ,wara kollox il-pulizija semmew li 4 armi-tan-nar ma kienux irregistrati,li aktarx li lanqas hunting licence ma jkollhom dawn.
Jason Borg
Apr 23rd 2010, 22:06
@ Salvu Abela - Propjament jien kont qed nirribatti lil min qed jipprova jiskuza lil min inqabad jonsob illegalment. Imbaghad, wara kollox, l-FKNK hi l-ikbar ghaqda tal-kaccaturi. L-ohrajn teftifa membri ghandhom. Mela l-probabilita` hi li hafna milli kisru l-ligi qeghdin fiha. Issa jekk l-FKNK hi x-xirka tal-qaddisin (j'alla hi) ma nafx.
M.Abela
Apr 23rd 2010, 20:13
I am curious to know statistics about how many birdlife and cabs members were stopped by the police for stepping into private lands and sneaking with binoculars/ telecopes , taking photos in other words violating privacy! it would be nice to have some statistics about these invadors!
Josef Borg
Apr 23rd 2010, 20:39
I am sure the Police are doing everything possible but this is certainly not enough! Let's face facts, many hunters still do "whatever they want" and I don't mean all but a lot still do. If you go around and listen to what they are saying it's like they have the right to do it because the government took them for a ride.... well my hunting friends, the government took all the nation for a ride but this does not mean that everyone can break to law to retaliate. Make a favor to yourselves and stop being aggressive towards Bird Life as they are not against you ... they are against illegal hunting thus they are RIGHT and you are all WRONG. Whatever has been promised to you was wrong. And also please stop being stingy ... if you keep hunting without control in a few decades we will have no more birds ... and this means future hunters wont exist and our tradition will end just because a small fraction of people acted selfish. The A.L.E should also start controlling fishing..... in the past 15 years most species disappeared from our coasts....
M.Abela
Apr 23rd 2010, 21:47
all i am saying is that it is not nice to be in your PRIVATE LAND for which rent is paid and having these volunteers sneaking and taking photos of every movement you do even though no or no possible illegal activity is being done! Most of the time these volunteers (having EU funds) interest is not the birds migrating or flying over Malta but interested in what farmers/hunters are doing as their cameras and binoculars are not pointed to the sky but to land owners! These volunteers have no right to enter or watch out in private fields as this can be compared to the situation such as a person is staying in the window looking at his other neighbour's activity in his house! therefore violating privacy. there is no difference at all in these two situations! no? - P.S ~still this does not justify violence or aggressions as these volunteers have to be reported to police as well! that is why my curiosity all about, how many bird life /cabs members have been arraigned for violating privacy!
wally vella-zarb
Apr 23rd 2010, 22:15
M.Abela, your concept of what constitutes 'privacy' might not be correct legally. If what you are doing on your private land, inside your house even, can be readily seen from a public place, legally you are doing it in public. In fact, if you are doing 'something' in your own bedroom, with the windows open and in full view of a public place, you may even be summonsed 'for offending public morals'! Don't ask me why; I didn't write the law!
Manwel Borg
Apr 23rd 2010, 22:32
@ Josef Borg
“Most species disappeared from our coasts…” you say.
Will you please mention just a few of all these species?