THE LAW ENFORCERS

PROACT MALTA

THE LAW ENFORCERS

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The Malta Police Corps

THE FACTS

[Updates or additional information - from whatever source - is very welcome! doc 01.02.2002]

The fight against environmental crime is carried out principally by the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit (ALE). This unit is subordinated to the Traffic Branch!

Despite their improving motivation and training (ALE members visited the Italian police in 2001 under the sponsorship of BirdLife Malta) their numbers are insufficent for the massive task they are faced with and their transport and other equipment badly needs upgrading and modernising.

If Malta is serious about combating illegal hunting and trapping, adequate manpower resources must be allocated, the status of the unit upgraded; and the officers tasked with this form of crime require mobility and communications facilities on at least a par with the criminals they are being called upon to pursue and arrest!

The Assistant Commissioner for Protective Services, Mr. Joe Brincat, replied to Proact last year on behalf of the ex-police Commissioner Mr Grech as follows:

"I am directed to inform you that we have taken note of your letter and that ADEQUATE action has been taken to DETECT abuses"

(my capital letters! DC)

We hope that the new Police Commissioner will also consider the use of the words "comprehensive" or "sustained" instead of "adequate" - and perhaps "prevent" and "root out" for "detect"!

But actions will speak louder than words!

[Mails can be 'filtered out' by title if the recipient(s) are being snowed under. Vary the title in the subject box if you have time - and a vivid imagination!]

MAIL TO THE (NEW) COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

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MORE RESOURCES ARE REQUIRED TO FIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME

The Commissioner of Police
Mr. John Rizzo

Dear Mr Rizzo,

Many of us wrote last year to your predecessor urging that the police make a greater effort to pursue, apprehend and bring to justice the criminal hunters and trappers who perpetrate such massive bloodshed on your islands annually.

We are still waiting for a reply.

The past year, and in particular recent events, have shown that the problem is still rampant; it is also clear that many Maltese citizens are no longer prepared to tolerate lack of effective action by the authorities.

Operations by the Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) unit are increasingly better coordinated; and their training in conducting such operations has been improved.

More needs to be done however. We urge you to consider:

- A reorganisation, and improvement in the numbers and status, of the ALE officers fighting environmental crime.

- raising the motivation of the unit, and

- significantly improving their manpower, mobility and communications facilities.

We ask you to take this letter seriously. Not all Europeans are capable of expressing themselves perfectly in English; or have the time to compose individual texts; but the content and sentiments of this letter reflect our views entirely.

Yours sincerely,

[Name and address]

ADDRESS IN FULL:

The Commissioner of Police
Mr John Rizzo
Police General Headquarters,
Floriana,
Malta

email: john.rizzo@magnet.mt

Fon: +356 224001 / 224002
Fax: +356 235467

If you send an email separately, please copy it to:

PROACT PROJECT MALTA

This helps us at Proact to monitor the scope of the campaign and increase our effectiveness in future.

Thank you,

David Conlin
Proact International