In a bid to curb illegal hunting and trapping, the police have engaged district police to assist officers from the Administrative Law Enforcement and it appeared that abuse was “on the downside”, said Assistant Police Commissioner Josie Brincat.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday morning, the assistant police commissioner said the police were duty-bound to monitor and detect illegal hunting and trapping in rural areas and bird sanctuaries.

“While it is impossible to have policemen in every area where illegal practices may take place, the police are being proactive rather than reactive. Police presence may also prove to be a deterrent in certain cases,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Brincat said it was suggested to him that police officers monitoring hunting and trapping practices should be in plain clothes, but he did not believe this was the best way of going about it, particularly since one had to take into consideration police officers’ security.

Between January and March this year, some 41 hunters and trappers were caught in the red and five shotguns were confiscated. Another 26 were caught since the beginning of the open season for hunting and trapping of quail and turtle dove on 10 April, he said, adding that none of the people charged was caught in bird sanctuaries.

Comparing these figures to the situation during the same three months last year, when 69 people were charged in connection with illegal hunting and trapping, the situation seemed more controlled.

Assistant Commissioner Brincat said the police also received assistance from AFM officers, who sometimes monitored hunting and trapping at sea, while Malta Environment and Planning Authority officers also carried out some inspections.

“We would like the public to be more forthcoming and report any illegal activity they might witness, not just illegal hunting and trapping, on the ‘crime stopper’ hotline 119. Callers may remain unanimous, but certain information will be requested,” he said.

The assistant commissioner said he believed that police presence, together with cooperation from hunting and trapping organisations, were probably factors that contributed to the control of illegal hunting and trapping last season.