Used furniture, linen and blankets for detention centres

The Customs Department has donated used furniture, linen and blankets to the police to be used at detention centres.

Speaking at the police headquarters, in Floriana yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela said that Bibbly Line Group, a US company that owns a floating hotel, had decided to donate used furniture and other accessories to the Maltese government.

"The items were therefore given to the Customs Department which, in turn, forwarded them to the police," Notary Abela said.

Notary Abela said the illegal immigrants being kept at the police detention centres had all been refused asylum status and were waiting to be repatriated.

"However, the government is obliged to ensure that these people live in humane conditions in the circumstances," he said.

He said the police and the Customs Department were doing a good job even though their work sometimes received negative coverage.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo said the police had often found it difficult to provide for the detainees through limited resources since the first asylum seekers arrived in Malta.