Editorial

Rewarding two officers who bravely faced a group of criminals shooting at them during a failed heist at the HSBC Bank headquarters in Qormi last summer, Police Commissioner John Rizzo said the constables were “an example of how a true policeman should behave”. Most policemen usually behave in an exemplary manner, doing their duty in an impeccable way according to the circumstances they are faced with.

It is therefore fitting to list the officers who were awarded certificates of merit, if anything to honour them for their dedication to duty and the way they served society:

PS Johann Micallef, a member of the drugs squad, obtained information that led to the conclusion of a long investigation into cannabis importation; PC Kenneth Camilleri and PC Robert Vassallo, from the traffic section, plucked an elderly woman to safety from her burning house; PC Godwin Caruana, although off duty, forwarded information to the drugs squad, leading to a considerable drugs find; PC Jurgen Muscat stopped a person from committing suicide and PS Edelon Spiteri, while off duty, furnished information that led to the arrest of two petrol station theft suspects in Victoria.

Mobile squad members PC Kenneth Ciangura and PC Kurt Gauci were named Officers of the Year for effectively foiling the bank headquarters robbery.

At the risk of sounding alarmist, it has to be said that over the past months and weeks there has been crime that seems to be demanding a new approach in the way it is fought, whether through more police presence on the roads, harsher penalties or a more cooperative public.

The use of firearms appears to be on the increase. Crime occurs also throughout the day and not only under the cover of darkness, sparing no members of society, but especially the frail, such as the elderly. And there is no other way one can describe the bombing of the Transport Malta offices but terrorism, whatever the motive.

All-round action needs to be taken to face this situation.

The legislator must look into the law and ensure the provisions in place, especially in terms of penalties and bail, are adequate.

Likewise, the police have to assess the prevailing situation and see what operational changes are required. Are there enough officers on the beat? Is maximum use of all personnel being made? Is there work officers do that can be taken over by civilians? Does the force have the necessary resources?

There is then the crucial aspect of relations between the police and the community. This is usually done via the media and it cannot be said that press-media relations are what they should be. Far from it! Mind you, the police do inform the press continuously of what is happening but that is hardly enough to engage society in actually helping in crime prevention and solving.

Police officers need to be more present on the media, including when serious crime occurs. They need to be seen able and willing to help society fight crime. There is certain information in their possession they can share with the public to jog their memory, like, to give a practical example, the sort of string or paper used in the Transport Malta bombing.

Both Mr Rizzo and Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici seem to have an open mind about the need to boost police-press relations. So, where’s the problem? Or, rather, who is the problem?

The gallant police officers deserve to have the full backing of society.