Federcaccia: the Prefecture of Brescia clarifies the functions of the Zoophile Eco Guards following the requests of FIdC confirming the illegitimate hunting surveillance activity carried out by the volunteers.
The Prefecture of Brescia with its own note n.00014527 / 2014 of 12 February decided to limit "the effectiveness of the prefectural authorizations in favor of the eco-zoophile guards to (only) supervision of pets". The requests of Federcaccia Brescia were therefore fully accepted, which judged the hunting surveillance activity carried out by the voluntary agents of the eco-zoophile associations in possession of the prefectural decree alone to be illegitimate. The Italian Federation of Hunting expresses great satisfaction with this decision of the Prefecture, reminding all the Brescia hunters that since May 2013 it has started a legal dispute both with the offices of the Provincial Police Department and with those of the Prefecture itself, supporting the total illegality of the activity carried out by the volunteers of the eco-zoophile associations in the matter of hunting controls. During these months we have encountered numerous difficulties but also institutions willing to listen to us. Above all, once again, the President of our Province Hon. Daniele Molgora who with his usual sensitivity and intellectual honesty wanted to deepen and understand the problem until requesting an intervention from the Prefecture with a note dated February 5th in order to remove the reference to hunting surveillance from the prefectural decrees issued to voluntary zoophile guards.
Federcaccia Brescia has always maintained that whoever is responsible for enforcing the laws must be the first to respect them, no ifs and buts! It was therefore intolerable that there were volunteers on the territory of the province authorized to carry out hunting controls totally in contrast with the current legislation and with the guidelines of the Ministry of the Interior expressed incontrovertibly in the circular of 20 November 2013, but even earlier in that of 7 November 2011, stating precisely that "the zoophile security guards appointed by the Prefect pursuant to Article 6 of Law 189/2004 (Provisions concerning the prohibition of mistreatment of animals, as well as their use in clandestine unauthorized) cannot exercise hunting surveillance in the absence of a specific authorization deed by the provincial administration ”and consequently the“ insufficiency - for that purpose (hunting supervision) - of the prefectural appointment ”.
Thanks to the note from the Prefecture, as happened in other provinces of Italy, the law is now applied correctly. It was read in the local newspapers that some environmental associations would not accept this decision of the bodies in charge and would like to ask the eco-zoophile associations to continue in the hunting surveillance service. Federcaccia Brescia reminds that actions of this type are in evident contrast with the provisions of the law and invites hunters who are controlled during the hunting activity, even by simply requesting documents, to file a complaint for abuse of power with the competent authorities. Federcaccia will take care of assisting them free of charge through its legal department.
This story shows, if there is still a need, that with competence, preparation and determination any result can be achieved. Federcaccia Brescia will continue to apply this method in all the challenges that await the hunting world of Brescia because we believe that serious and well-trained hunter associations are needed to defend the hunting activity.
Federcaccia Brescia
(February 28, 2014)