12 hunters have been summonsed by Police from the Administrative Law Enforcement Section (ALE) for hunting illegally during the spring hunting season.

One of them had been caught twice on different days so in total there were 13 summonses. Another man was also fined for trapping illegally.

Police, in a statement said that with 50 police conducted 2,241 inspections in various localities around Malta for illegal hunting. During these inspections, they were assisted by members of the Armed Forces of Malta.

During the season, Police said that they confiscated 13 shotguns, trapping nets, and birdcallers.

The number of summonses issued by Police this season was more than in the previous two years combined, it said.

Police said that summonses were issued for hunting without a valid spring hunting license, illegally shooting turtle doves, hunting outside the permitted hours, as well as those who were caught hunting with a suspended license, or hunting when the season was closed.

Among the arrests made was a 32-year-old man following reports that a protected black stork (cikonja sewda) had been shot at. He was apprehended by ALE officers aided by the Rapid Intervention Unit, and a modified shotgun was found concealed in a compartment behind the seat of his car. The man was arraigned in court the next day.

The ALE Police also received several reports from NGOs, which it said are being investigated.

In recent weeks the ALE Police have also been engaged in inspections on mandatory quarantine and the enforcement of the number of people in public spaces.

Photo: Police CMRU

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