Labour MP Adrian Vassallo said yesterday that the police had recently found the resources to mount a round the clock watch over a protected bird which arrived at Salina, but no resources were available to mount guard and end abuse by prostitutes and gays in Ta' Xbiex and Gzira.

Dr Vassallo said in an adjournment speech in parliament that the police had mounted guard from land and sea over a spoonbill which arrived at Salina and stayed for some two days a few weeks ago.

There was nothing wrong in this.

But if the police had the luxury to mount such a watch on a bird why couldn't the same protection be afforded to people who sought protection, such as battered wives?

Last week, some 500 policemen were on duty in Valletta for the Police Day parade. Policemen were also always available to distribute voting documents when elections were held. But then, despite repeated complaints, no policemen were available to patrol some streets of Gzira and Ta' Xbiex which were akin to certain quarters of Amsterdam. One could even see men dressed as women who were more obscene than the women themselves. The situation was such that nobody, of whatever age, could walk in the area without being pestered.

At the Gzira garden homosexuals turned up every night and performed obscene acts. At one time they started breaking the light bulbs and Gzira council, instead of sending policemen to stop the abuse, promptly turned off the lights!

While there were enough policemen to guard a protected bird, Gzira police station was closed. Policemen were also not available to patrol streets around Fleet Street, where homes were frequently being burgled while their elderly tenants went to Mass.

The people, Dr Vassallo said, deserved better from the police force.