Minister praises police 'sacrifice' during strike
Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici yesterday met a delegation from the Malta Police Association (MPA), led by its chairman Superintendent Antonello Grech.
During the meeting, Dr Mifsud Bonnici praised the police force for the dedication and sacrifice which were especially evident during the public transport strike.
The minister also announced that a number of projects are in the pipeline to better equip the force.
The MPA has been representing the interests of members of the Police Corps since its inception in 1955.
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DVella
Aug 7th 2008, 13:43
@Joe Cordina
I like to think I have good manners so I will forego being insulting in your regard the way you have with me. Just to correct you slightly, however, I would not say we are in a police state, I would merely observe that a bunch of thugs that have broken the law and terrorized tourists and locals and cost the country millions in resulting damages have got what they deserve!!!
William Attard McCarthy
Aug 6th 2008, 23:11
What the Police Force needs is more Officers with guts. Guts to back their subordinate ranks. It is pretty useless for our constables and sergeants to be brandishing state-of-the-art equipment when it's just their on show due to the fear of repercussions it would bring to the officer in charge (read inquests, explanatory paperwork, etc). All this red tape leads our Police Force's officers to keep a step back from using modern police equipment.
Today we have grown accustomed to seeing our Police Force wearing webbing belts full of equipment similar to their American counterparts'. What we need now is for them to be able to use the equipment they're brandishing without fear, like their American counterparts.
Our streets today have become far more dangerous and hostile to the rank on duty; we are far beyond the days of wooden batons hidden in a uniform trouser pocket.
Domine Dirige Vos.
Nathan Young
Aug 6th 2008, 20:21
@Denis Catania
I am in complete agreement.
C. Camilleri
Aug 6th 2008, 18:32
If this is all our policemen can do during a disturbance than we are in deep trouble. They looked more than boy scouts to me.
Alfred Grech
Aug 6th 2008, 18:27
Many times police officers sacrifice themselves while performing their duties.
Hope that instead of "thank you"s the Minister looks seriously into the needs of our officers and supply them with the proper equipment to deal with unrests and yes, pay them better wages.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Aug 6th 2008, 17:43
It's refreshing to hear a good joke, sometimes. Or is it??
Denis Catania
Aug 6th 2008, 16:25
Yes more equipment. I screamed for that from July 14th. Helmets, shields, batons, tear gas' rubber bullets, paddy wagons, police videographers, water cannons, bullet proof vests, guns, and a good communication system. We will need all this. The police did do a heroic job on an individual basis. As a force maybe they weren't properly equipped. Police comm John Rizzo don't be afraid to use any of this equipment. Your job is to protect the Maltese population, but we can't be protected unless the police is protected.John Rizzo and MPA please protect our police officers, They deserve it. Maybe our cries were heard.
Joe Cordina
Aug 6th 2008, 15:01
@vella
If a 100 peaople were arrested then someone as short sighted as you would say that we are in a police state!!!
DVella
Aug 6th 2008, 14:42
Praising them for their 'sacrifice' is OK I suppose . . .
Too bad they were incapable of doing their job though?? If they had, there should have been at least a hundred arrests of the thugs rather then a dozen or so and perhaps people wouldn't have got beaten, had their vehicles damaged or illegally sequestered, roads might ot have been illegally blocked, tourists mightn't have got terrorized and forced off their tour bus or left without transport or blackaded at the airport or the cruise liner terminal etc etc etc etc . . . . ! ! !
Franco Farrugia
Aug 6th 2008, 10:34
Hopefully, it won't be a very long 'pipeline'!