Police fail to explain inaction over 112 calls

The police have once again failed to explain why no action appeared to have been taken following two emergency calls to report a case of domestic violence.

Questions sent to police on May 27 and a reminder sent on Friday remained unanswered.

A French woman who claimed she made two fruitless 112 calls after hearing the screams of a beaten woman late at night said it was “unacceptable” that the police did not turn up.

“Not only did they fail to act but they ignored the call for action,” 34-year-old Weronika Kacperska told The Sunday Times.

On May 28, she was woken by the screams of a woman who was being beaten by a man in an apartment close to her Sliema flat.

She called emergency number 112 twice to report the incident – first she was told that a police car was on its way without asking her details and the second time she gave clear directions to guide the police to her home.

The screams stopped at around 2 a.m. and, until she slept almost an hour later, Ms Kacperska said she did not see any police on site and she was not contacted.

Even after the story appeared in The Sunday Times last week, Ms Kacperska said she did not receive any official feedback.

Her friends and colleagues praised her prompt action, which she admitted, was surprising. “I think it was the most natural thing to do but people told me that not many would react that way and it is a bit sad,” she said.

“I still think about her – I wonder whether she is OK or on the floor of her apartment. At the end of the day I still live across from her and she is my neighbour,” she said.

Once again, Ms Kacperska called for prompt police action and strong social awareness to help women in domestic violence situations.

“They are an official body and are paid for by the people’s taxes, which even foreigners pay,” she said.