UPDATED - PL calls for abuse investigation

The Labour Party has called for an investigation into alleged abuses by members of the police force which were reported in the press.

Home Affairs spokesman Michael Falzon said such cases harmed the good name of the police and undermined the people's confidence in the force.

He said the absolute majority of policemen served their country well and made a lot of sacrifices. Therefore, one could not allow such allegations to taint the force and its honest members.

MINISTRY'S REACTION

The Home Affairs Ministry in a reaction this evening pointed out that last Sunday it had already issued a statement saying that an investigation into the allegations was underway.

The investigation started even before the newspaper reports claiming that excessive force was used by the police for the arrest of a person who had not turned up for a court sitting.

Relatives of the accused person were asked for CCTV footage which had been recorded on the site where the police abuse allegedly took place, but the relatives and the legal counsel of the person involved refused the request.

The ministry said that so far this year, 13 reports of alleged abuse of police powers were filed to the authorities. Five were still pending in court, four were being investigated and four cases had not been proved.

The ministry reiterated that all allegations were investigated in terms of the law, in contrast to what used to happen in the past.