St Luke’s Square to get police station

A notorious trouble spot in Pietà is to be guarded by a new police station next door to the Detox Centre, a move the local council yesterday described as badly needed.

“During the Christmas period we had a spike in crime,” mayor Malcolm Mifsud said when contacted, adding that a police station would help to keep residents safe from theft. Over the last month, he said, there had been a hold-up on a stationery next to the Detox Centre, during which the shop attendant had resisted and been injured, and some elderly people had been robbed in their homes.

He said the council did not want to label drug victims as criminals as 90 per cent of them were law-abiding citizens, but a small percentage stood around the Detox Centre and caused problems.

The council had always believed a police station was needed and Dr Mifsud welcomed the planning authority’s approval for one to be located on St Luke’s Square. This was only possible, he said, after consultation took place between the Justice Ministry, the Police Commissioner and health authorities. Following these discussions, an agreement was reached to change the former guard room within the precincts of St Luke’s Hospital to a police station.

“Placing the police station near the Detox Centre is indispensable as the presence of the police force will deter persons loitering in the vicinity,” Dr Mifsud said.