I refer to the article ‘Environment police unit suffers useless massacre’, (The Sunday Times of Malta, September 14).

The Malta Police Force strongly denies the claims recently published in the media regarding the alleged deterioration of its Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) Unit.

On the contrary, the unit is sufficiently equipped to deal with the hunting season and any other situations it may be called to tackle.

The unit is currently comprised of a number of fixed police officers and others from other sections who have been effectively trained by experts to police the ongoing hunting season.

Furthermore, it is sufficiently equipped with means of transport to effectively patrol both land and sea, as is, after all, evidently being done.

Testament to this is the fact that all reports received so far have been duly treated in an equally timely and effective manner.

We also refer to the editorial entitled ‘Intimidation by the ALE?’ (The Sunday Times of Malta, September 7).

In view of the allegations also made by nature reserve warden Ray Vella, the Malta Police Force strongly denies that the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit’s encounter with him was in any way tantamount to intimidation and harassment, as he sensationally claims.

This is a somewhat amusing allegation seeing how the meeting was actually cordial, so much so that Mr Vella voluntarily showed-off some newly-hatched chicks to the police officers before entertaining them to a cup of coffee.

Furthermore, with regard to the visit itself, the Malta Police Force emphasises that it was legally obliged to investigate the case and therefore, yes, the unit was duty-bound to confirm where the flamingo had been taken and how it got there.

Moreover, it has to be clarified that should a member of the public come across an injured bird, he or she is legally bound to inform the Wild Bird Regulations Unit or the Police, the only competent authorities, as laid down by law.