While it was illegal for anyone to trap wild birds between two hours after sunset and two hours before sunrise, it was likewise illegal to trespass on - and cause wilful damage to - private property, the hunters federation (FKNK) said.

It said in a statement this afternoon that it strongly condemned illegal trapping and would continue to demonstrate zero tolerance towards anyone convicted of such illegality.

However, it was a criminal offence to contemplate arbitrary exercise of pretended rights.

Referring to a statement by CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows on Tuesday claiming that illegal night trapping was out of control, the FKNK asked if Ms Burrows was really trying to protect the birds, or if she was attempting to justify trespassing and deliberate damage on private property.

The FKNK said CABS should recall that, in 2012, when their local representative, Gozitan David Camilleri, in the company of four other CABS members, entered private land without the owner’s permission, he was found guilty of the criminal offence contemplating arbitrary exercise of pretended rights and of violating private property.

The association said that, in recent months, it received several complaints regarding harassment from CABS and BirdLife. 

It said it hoped and expected these incidents would be investigated and that legal action would be taken with the same intensity and seriousness as that used for any alleged illegality of hunting and trapping incidents.