No contingency plan for major mishap in Paceville
There is no contingency plan for any major mishap in Paceville, be it a mass fight or a fire in a place of entertainment. In any such event not even the police would know where to begin to handle the situation, Assistant Police Commissioner Ray Zammit told Parliament's Social Affairs Committee yesterday.
It would be good to an exercise to form some appropriate ideas, he added.
The meeting, chaired by Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo, was attended by representatives of several entities involved in Malta's major entertainment area.
Mr Zammit, who is responsible for a large area including Paceville, said private bouncers in several establishments constituted "another army" against the police by not allowing them to do their duty inside the establishment.
Although there seemed to be only a small uniformed district police presence in the centre of Paceville, the real police effort was much bigger, including units of the SAG, Drug Squad, Administrative Law Enforcement and plainclothes policemen.
The so-called teens parties, which had been unheard-of until a few years ago and of which the police would know nothing in advance unless an organiser applied for a permit, attracted people as young as 10, but the law said nothing about a minimum age for young people to attend.
Unfortunately some families' values had all but disappeared, with parents siding with their children on the pretext that they had "grown up all of a sudden".
Mr Zammit said the clothing and behaviour of several Paceville patrons, including parents, sometimes made him wonder what was still indecent and vulgar.
As for the availability of alcohol to under-17s, people had found a way around the system by buying it from car boots just before 9 p.m., even outside Paceville. There had been cases of teenagers being found semi-conscious on the rocks after having experimented with vodka and a popular energy drink.
The entertainment buzz was only just starting at 1 a.m., and high volumes of music had greater effects on heavily-imbibed people. Indeed the most common incidents occurred after 4 a.m.
Police Superintendent Stephen Gatt, based at St Julian's, put most incidents down to a growing lack of tolerance. Another problem was that once music stopped being played in bars they must close down completely, not just their shutters with customers staying on until daytime.
The fact that prices of alcoholic drinks in Malta were still far below those in other countries – he mentioned €10 for a drink in Finland – did not help.
While Maltese patronage decreased in summer there was a heavy influx of foreign students, making for an inter-racial mix of cultures in a relatively-small area.
Instead of different laws on police procedures, entertainment and wines and spirits, some dating back to 1908 and discriminatory in themselves, there should be one umbrella law arrived at after a joint study in which all involved pulled the same rope.
But while the police were doing their best to handle the situation, what hurt most was the "unfair barrage by the media, especially at weekends and mostly by two particular journalists", who seemed to take pleasure in denigrating police efforts as if they had only Paceville to control.
Philip Fenech, chairman of the GRTU's Tourism & Entertainment Division, said Paceville as an area was a 24-hour source of added value to the economy, where up to 20,000 people from several walks of life went to release their pent-up tensions or even celebrate.
Considerations that had historically made for serious incidents included pettiness, juvenile delinquency, language students, football support and festa rivalry – in brief, people's lack of self-management. In the past, foreign sailors on shore leave had also been the culprits.
Looking on the brighter side of things, he said that 30 years ago the situation had been very different, with only six places of entertainment, four bombing incidents and payment of protection money.
A structured police presence in Paceville was required not only at peak times. The SAG had been the most effective in the management of commotion.
GRTU President Paul Abela said that once values declined, there was very little else to rely on. The hastily-decided banning of alcohol sales after 9 p.m. had not proved to be the hoped-for magic recipe because people were finding a way around it with the help of car boots.
Dr Anthony Farrugia, a lawyer and resident of Paceville who founded GASP after his son had been threatened with a broken bottle, said it was offensive for his group to be accused of wanting a police state there. The situation was untenable and could not wait until some tragedy occurred.
GASP was very satisfied with the results of recent steps taken, which had vindicated the group's faith in the police. So resources could be found when somebody put their minds to it.
Dr Farrugia said incidents at Paceville could never be stamped out completely, but at least now there was a visible deterrent. His group would continue to monitor the situation.
Mr Richard Scicluna, deputy mayor of St Julians local council and chairman of the administrative council for Paceville, acknowledged that progress had been made but added that law and order were needed all day.
What attention was being paid to the side streets, where residents' parapets were ending up as the scenes of illicit acts in the small hours? Residents had lost all hope of having an effective neighbourhood watch.
A particular bottle shop in Paceville Avenue was a potential source of trouble where the owner encouraged youths to sing rival political songs.
The sight of a police presence did not bother him, indeed he encouraged it.
St Julians mayor Peter Bonello said incidents at Paceville would never cease completely. One potential major source of help would be to have a police sub-station at Paceville, even if only at weekends, or to move the police station there from St Julians, where there were no major problems of law and order.
The stationing of medical services and an ambulance might also help.
He expressed severe doubts as to whether Paceville was prepared for a serious fire or other tragedy in any establishment, and suggested the organisation of a fake exercise to help map out a plan.
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J Mangion
Oct 12th 2011, 14:14
I would like to inform the general public that nobody of the stake holders (bar and club owners) was invited to this meeting. This is ridiculous and shows the lack of thinking by this government. Can we please know why nobody of them were invited ?
Nathalie Frendo
Oct 12th 2011, 13:16
The situation in Paceville has become out of anybody's hand. Shame. Its no use saying that this is the place where businesses make an easy buck and so anything goes. Our youths have a right to entertain themslevs but this should not be in such an unruly manner. Why should there be pointed instruments on some of the patrons? If the law is adhered to this place will improve. But in this country we give up and do not observe any rules at all. Having more police presence is th etip of the iceberg. Alchohol laws are broken all the time, buy one get one free vouchers are enough to last a lifetime. Drugs galore. How come youths know where to obtain drugs and the police dont? This is not about business not about poliics but about the safety of our youths
Judith Schembri
Oct 12th 2011, 13:13
My husband is an ex-PC and knows the AC for a good number of years since he worked in the same unit with him.
Mr Zammit is an intelligent man and knows society very well. He has seen the good and the bad in the Force and I am certain that what he is saying is correct. He has an excellent reputation and has always done his job well.
There are parents who push their children to grow so that they would not remain on the 'xkaffa' as they say. Some of the incidents - pls note that I said some not all - are due to the wrong upbringing of children. I had a friend who was drinking at a bar with a boyfriend, when suddenly two persons started to fight over a stupidity (they were drunk). As they started to move away from the fighting couple, one of them broke a bottle and tried to hit the other, missed and tore my friend's face who was moving away from the fight. She ended up with ten stitches to her face that night, apart from the inferiority complex that she started to suffer because of the scar.
Yes Mr Zammit, you are right and it is about time that people go to Paceville with a calm mind and to have fun. If you go there to have fun, the sight of the police would not interefere with the fun, in fact it will put your mind at rest as regards to protection. But if you go there to cause trouble - well that is a different story, no?
Some people when they have a grudge against somebody they would wait for occasions like parties, festas etc to have their revenge. So why should the police presence interfere with your fun UNLESS you go there for trouble?
Keep it up Mr Zammit!!
Rita Chircop
Oct 12th 2011, 12:13
While I agree that there should be a substation at Paceville, I STRONGLY DISAGREE that the main station be moved from St Julians to Paceville for the following reasons:
1) It is already already very difficult to access the Police Station at St Julians due to lack of parking facilities. I cannot imagine how this situation be remeded within Paceville where parking restrictions are far more greater;
2) certain streets in Paceville are either closed or have a one way system. This renders accessibility more precarious;
3) The presence of thousands of youths in Paceville, some high on alcohol or other substances would disuade genuine citizens from the Police station should they need it;
4) the movement of police either on foot or by their means of transport to go and assist St Julians residents will be greatly handicapped if the Police Station is re-sited there;
5) Although Paceville might be more busy at night, the bigger majority of St Julians residents reside well outside Paceville for example in Swieqi; St Andrews; Pembroke, etc
John Portelli
Oct 12th 2011, 12:03
Why are we so surprised?
Do we have contingency plans for Valletta or Sliema or anywhere else, including our communication system, energy network, water supply, Gozo.
Most restaurants do not have an emergency exit and their stuff know nothing about emergencies
And on top of all, our general hospital does not have capacity for day-to-day operation, let alone for emergencies!
Hope someone can prove me wrong and will put our mind at rest about these important issues!
EDWIN DE MARCO
Oct 12th 2011, 16:26
Seriously,John, they can't prove you wrong, because you're dead right. About putting your mind at rest - I'm afraid I can't help. On a more humourous note - you can always get under the table if unfortunately a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hits Malta & please avoid the beach afterwards as you could drown in a tsunami & get eaten ALIVE by a lonely shark . Of course, these words of wisdom are not my own but part of : WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF A STRONG EARTHQUAKE STRIKES MALTA by the CAD. (Contingency Authority Planning)
Tony Borg
Oct 12th 2011, 12:01
There is no rush.
First wait for some major mishap to happen.
Then hold a magisterial enquire which takes ages to complete.
Then blame someone as long as he does not hold a goverment post.
Next comes a 20 year court action especially if someone is claiming damages.
My advice, do not hold your breath. We talk and nothing happens.
Mr Chris Gatt
Oct 12th 2011, 11:57
Assistant Police Commissioner Ray Zammit seems to think he is in charge of the morality squad:
quote: "Mr Zammit said the clothing and behaviour of several Paceville patrons, including parents, sometimes made him wonder what was still indecent and vulgar."
"Unfortunately some families' values had all but disappeared, with parents siding with their children on the pretext that they had "grown up all of a sudden".
It seems that Mr Zammit idea of po0licing is to round up the parents, tell them off and give them a good clip round the ear. So thisis what policing is all about.
Worse still is the implication of Mr Gatt who informs us "While Maltese patronage decreased in summer there was a heavy influx of foreign students, making for an inter-racial mix of cultures in a relatively-small area.". Ehm what is an inter-racial mix of cultures? Does he mean Europeans mixing with blacks? Or Arabs mixing with Swedes?? Seriouslyis this man compaining about something we see in every European city. And suddenly the people coming from different countries is a problem? Is this the level of competence in our police force?
But the cherry on the cake is the police admitting they have no contingency plans, adding "It would be good to an exercise to form some appropriate ideas".
Yes, of course, why don't we all sit down, make ourselves a cup of tea have a little chin wag and think about it. Excuse me for asking but what is the assistant commissioner waiting for? The green light from parliament? Has he not realised thatcontingency plans might come with his job description?! If he is overworked then he should say so. But to suggest that it might be a good idea to do actually do his job is simply barmy.
Mr A Spiteri
Oct 12th 2011, 11:21
i guess those involved in this meeing never went to other entertianment hubs such as soho, ibiza, rimini or ayia napa!
Mr Marcel Dingli
Oct 12th 2011, 11:12
Mr Zammit, i know the Police are stretched. The importance is having quality not quantity. Get rid of dimwits, pen pushers and armchair warmers that are giving a bad name to the Police. I am sure that the majority of the population will support you.
Mr Peter Murray
Oct 12th 2011, 11:06
Well knock me down with a feather-how surprising is this revelation?