Filenews 30 July 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
Despite the increased extrajudicial documents issued by the prosecuting authorities and despite the increased penalties imposed by the courts for poaching, the phenomenon continues to exist and in fact in the period 2020-2022 (until July 25) the Police handled 458 cases.
Moreover, in the period 2015-2019, when the Ulamos fighting poaching was in charge, another 230 complaints were recorded.
The above results from an answer by the Minister of Justice Stefi Drakou to a question by Larnaka MP Christos Orphanides.
In the reply, which was prepared by the Chief of Police and forwarded through the minister, it is stated that the Poaching Ulamos in the last five years, before its closure in 2019, made 62 complaints in 2015, 71 in 2016, 48 in the year 2017, 35 in 2018 and 14 in 2019. During the same period, 279 wild bird trappings were identified and seized, as follows: In 2015, 100 trapping means were seized, 76 in 2016, 61 in 2017, 26 in 2018 and 16 in 2019.
For the action of the Police from the year 2020 onwards, in the response of the Minister of Justice it is stated that on the basis of the law on the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game, the following cases were handled:
• in 2020, 194 cases (cases or out-of-court cases) were handled. For 56 of them, a criminal file was formed.
• in 2021, the Police handled 205 cases (cases or out-of-court cases). For the 73, a criminal file was formed.
• in 2022, the Police handled 59 cases (cases or out-of-court cases). For 8, a criminal file was formed, while 21 are under investigation.
Mrs. Drakou informs Mr. Orphanides that the Police continues to act in support of the Game and Fauna Service and contributes at all times to operations and actions related to the fight against poaching. According to Mrs. Drakou, for this purpose, the Deputy Commander of Operations of the MMAD has been appointed as a point of contact, for the continuation of the close cooperation with the Game and Fauna Service, something about which the Head of the Service has been informed in advance.
In this way, Mrs. Drakou continues, the assistance of the MMAD in operations carried out in collaboration with the Game and Fauna Service, but also with the Cyprus Federation of Hunting and Wildlife Conservation (KOK and DAZ), continues, with the involvement of members of the MMAD, where needed or possibly members of other police services.
At the same time, the "Hunter's Line", at number 1414, continues to operate in the MMAD, on a 24-hour basis, in which any information on issues related to poaching can be given, which is evaluated and used accordingly.
During the years 2020 and 2022, the MMAD in cooperation with the Game Fund carried out 12 Joint Enterprises.
Below - Actions and Years
1 Offences that contravene Hunting Legislation
2 Seizures of bird trapping equipment
