Police praised for their handling of strikers
The Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs has congratulated Police Commissioner John Rizzo and the entire Police Corps “for maintaining law and order in an exceptionally difficult environment during the past four days”.
In a statement, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said: "The unorthodox methods used by striking transport workers since Monday presented a number of trying challenges for our Police Force, and all these were tackled in the best possible manner, and effectively by Commissioner Rizzo and his team."
“The massive deployment of police officers in the face of several instances of provocation by transport workers on our roads controlled the potentially volatile situation which developed between Monday and Wednesday without escalating it and without any serious repercussions.”
The minister said those involved in criminal behaviour were held responsible for their actions.
A total of 17 persons were arraigned in court in connection with incidents related to the strikes over the course over the past three days.
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Joseph Huber
Jul 18th 2008, 08:03
Hear, Hear!! I fully agree with the minister's statement. Congratulations to the Police Force who certainly have gained the sympathy of well meaning Maltese. It was not easy to stand in scorching sun for hours on end to control the situation.
I do hope, however, that the agreement between the Transport Federation and Government doesn't include the waiving of fines meted out to law breakers because it would give the message that all other citizens must pay for their mistakes but when thugs and cowboys wear the guise of bus and taxi drivers, they can negotiate their way out of any situation even if it is a criminal act.
Philip Grech
Jul 18th 2008, 07:23
The actions by the strikers were nothing different from what we see in other European civilised countries. We all know how the French, Spaniards and Italians protest. However with a little more patience and common sense The Malta Police ended up handling the situation better than their European counterparts
godfrey pisani
Jul 18th 2008, 01:33
a welldone is truly appropriate to our police force for being very professional in such difficult situations these last 3 days . WELLDONE for the good work.
Joseph Ellis
Jul 18th 2008, 01:30
I have in the past often been critical of the police force, at times, harshly so. However, in the light of the way the whole police force has carried out its duties in the face of an abnormal threat to law and order, I think the minister's comments are indeed apt and I second them without hesitation. What is particularly commendable is that the police did not succumb to provocation and did not escalate the situation through their actions. If the undertakers got 230,000 euro for "marketing" in the most predictable market in the world, surely the members of the police force should benefit from a financial bonus for their efforts.
Thus premised, it has become indeed more urgent to throw full light on the Nicholas Azzopardi case and the Paceville incidents. The reputation of the police force, which has shown that it can rise to the occasion and collectively can handle law and order in a disciplined manner, should not be tarnished by the ill-advised action of individuals who act on their own.
Alfred Grech
Jul 18th 2008, 00:22
The Police deserve praise for keeping their tempers under control and for handling the unpleasant situation in a very professional way.
To John Rizzo, Raymond Zammit and all the force, prosit u grazzi.
OTerribile
Jul 17th 2008, 23:50
Hon Minister, May I suggest you send out a questionnaire to the police force so that you get a feedback from the officers themselves.
With all due respect , I beg to differ from your evaluation.
N.Brown
Jul 17th 2008, 23:40
Hats off to the Police Corps. I salute you. Yours was a very difficult task which you handled admirably in a country which is renowned for its delicate approach when it comes to certain sectors who think that they own the ranch. Hopefully the persons who were arrested will now receive their just reward from our Courts.
Denis Catania
Jul 17th 2008, 23:35
Yes on a individual basis the police I seen on video did a great job and a Brave one. As a force they did one of the worst jobs as the Maltese would call it Mickey Mouse. Only 17 arrest. We seen more than 17 alone that crashed through the police on Castille. Come on Minister just tell the truth that we are not prepared for mass arrests, and if we are prepared for mass arrests then you should step down along with the Police commish. They retrieved because they we're hungry and needed to come back to work. The EU should investigate why so little arrests and if conflict of interests existed.
joe borg
Jul 17th 2008, 22:50
Yes of course for letting everyone hitting law abiding workers, parking illegally in the iddle of the roads and terrorising the maltese and the tourists a very big PROSIT