Property Division to recruit enforcement officers

The Public Property Division within the Ministry of Finance is recruiting more enforcement officers and will be setting up a hotline where people may report abuse of government property, Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi said.

He said the Property Division intended to continue its crackdown on restaurants which exceeded the conditions of their encroachment permits by blocking pavements with tables and chairs.

The division, however, intended to gradually widen its law enforcement into other sectors, such as kiosks.

He said the division currently only had two enforcement officers, but intended to recruit another four in the short term.

While this number would not be enough it was expected to make a difference, Dr Azzopardi said.

He said enforcement action taken over the past few weeks had been welcomed by the people, and there had been a sharp increase in the number of those reporting abuse.

Talks would be held with the Malta Tourism Authority on how encroachment limits may be delineated so that violations could be more easily noted.

He also insisted that billboards placed on government sites had to be covered by permits from the Property Division. Local councils, he said, did not have the authority to issue such permits. Owners who are not currently covered by the necessary permits would be given 72 hours to remove their structures.