By the end of the month, the Ministry of Interior is expected to submit a draft law to Parliament, introducing significant changes to the legislation governing the operation of the Game and Fauna Service. The proposed bill, titled “Amendments to the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Law”, has been under legal review for the past year. Delays in its progression are attributed to amendments added after its initial public consultation in July 2023.
The main changes proposed in the draft law include:
1. Body Cameras for Game Wardens
Game wardens will be allowed to use portable body cameras during inspections to combat illegal hunting and for their personal safety. Wardens must inform individuals under inspection that they are being recorded. Access to the footage will be restricted to an authorised officer appointed by the head of the Game and Fauna Service. Anyone intentionally damaging a recording device will face criminal prosecution.
2. Armed Authority for Part-Time Wardens
Part-time game wardens, who currently lack arrest powers and the authority to carry firearms, will be permitted to carry individual weapons and handcuffs after passing fitness, drug, and psychometric tests, and completing special training approved by the Chief of Police.
3. Refusal to Accept Fines
If an illegal hunter refuses to accept a fine, the warden will report the incident to the local police station, recording the individual’s details, date, time, and location, establishing legal proof of receipt.
4. Criminal Penalties for Obstruction by Environmental Activists
Individuals who deliberately interfere with lawful hunting, attempt to disturb hunters, or endanger themselves or others in the process, will be guilty of an offence. This includes using drones, sensory devices, or entering the shooting line of licensed hunters.
5. Falconry to Control Pigeon Populations
The use of trained birds of prey to intimidate or manage populations of stray pigeons and other wildlife in urban areas, stadiums, airports, places of worship, monasteries, fisheries, archaeological sites, and farms will be legalised.
6. Prison Sentences for Sharing Animal Abuse Content
Anyone publishing images or videos showing the abuse of wild animals, or illegally hunted species, will face up to five years’ imprisonment or fines of up to €20,000, or both. Licensed hunters are prohibited from sharing images or videos of hunted or injured game on social media unless for educational purposes, such as raising awareness of habitat destruction. Violators may lose the right to renew their hunting licence unless they complete training and pass examinations.
7. Revocation of Hunting Licences
The Chief of Police may revoke a hunting licence following a justified recommendation from the head of the Game and Fauna Service if an individual’s actions negatively affect wildlife or endanger the safety of wardens, hunters, or the public.
8. Ban on Feeding Wild Animals
Feeding wild animals without the Service’s authorisation will be illegal to protect biodiversity and prevent disease transmission. Cutting or trimming trees and shrubs with active nests is also prohibited, including during the breeding season.
Body Cameras for police officers
Since November 2022, the Cabinet has approved a bill allowing police officers to use portable body cameras, transmitting live audio and video to the operations centre. Following consultations with the Data Protection Commissioner, the footage can be used as evidence in criminal investigations or complaints against police misconduct.
The bill, titled “Police (Amendment) (No.2) Law of 2022”, allows body cameras on uniforms, plainclothes officers, and police vehicles. They will be used in drug enforcement operations, crowd control, and incidents of violence against officers. The bill was submitted to Parliament on 10 November 2022 and is pending discussion before the Legal Affairs Committee.
Body cameras have been used by police in most US states for years, and from 2016, EU police forces began equipping officers with them. By 2018, 15 EU countries had adopted body cameras, recognising their role in increasing transparency and de-escalating conflicts between officers and the public.