House of Commons to discuss hunting in Malta

The House of Commons will this week hold a debate “UK policy on protection of migratory birds in Malta.” Popular television personality Chris Packham will be among those invited to participate in the debate which will be held upon the initiative of British Conservative MP Sir John Randall.

Packham, the presenter of BBC's Springwatch, was in Malta to document the widespread nature of illegal hunting last month, however he was held by the police for hours following one of his outings in the countryside.

During one of his expeditions in Mizieb, Packham was confronted by hunters who claimed that their privacy was being breached and the BBC presenter was asked to report at the Administrative Law Enforcement headquarters where he was held for questioning.

Packham urged his followers on Twitter and other social media sites to “rally as many MPs as possible” to attend the briefing and speak at the debate.

Sir John Randall, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip said “This deplorable slaughter of migratory birds in Malta must stop. Chris Packham has performed a service to the public and a service to nature by bringing it to light. I believe that most of the people of Malta and the British public share his outrage at the illegal hunting of birds on spring migration. I have called this debate to ask the Government what it will do to help put an end to this pointless killing.”

In an article penned by the Packham on yesterday’s The Observer, the presenter noted that during his stay in Malta he and his crew were “shouted at, jostled, threatened, harassed by the police, but who cares: the results have been astonishing.”