House report paints a sad picture of Paceville

Strip clubs need to be regulated and should be banned from using photos to advertise their “wares”, according to a parliamentary committee tasked with looking into problems afflicting Malta’s main entertainment hub, Paceville.

The committee suggested the establishment of criteria that would need to be met before such clubs are given a licence, stressing that no commercial activity linked to organised crime should be allowed.

This and other recommendations were listed by the Social Affairs Committee in a 27-page report that was published yesterday following an extensive consultation process with residents, business owners and the police about Paceville security.

The report puts in stark relief the misery and suffering of some residents, who complained about the noise, the smells coming from some catering establishments, lack of parking and the mess they find every morning on their doorsteps.

“There are residents who are afraid to speak out after receiving bomb threats… People’s parapets and their letter boxes have become public conveniences. If you try to speak, they will retaliate or threaten you,” a resident said.

Another said he no longer bothered to repair a window, having had to replace it eight times.

A priest who runs a church in the locality also chipped in, telling the committee that he was afraid to open the church on Sundays if he was alone because of a number of break-ins.

People entered the chapel to use the toilets during Mass and couples had even had sex on the parvis.

Originally a residential town, Paceville expanded into an entertainment centre with hotels, shops, bars and nightclubs, catering for a maximum of 25,000 people a night.

The committee suggested that security cameras should be installed in Paceville to help “public order” and used as “evidence” in case of an incident. The cameras would be the responsibility of an executive committee that would be entrusted with the day-to-day running of Paceville.

Many nightclubs hired bouncers, the report noted. But, in many cases, these personnel threw troublemakers into the street, shifting the problem outdoors.

“There needs to be police presence for a good control system and bouncers need to cooperate with the police. It was said that these bouncers are another army against the police because they don’t always allow the police to do their job,” the committee noted.

Not everyone agreed with this line of thought. In fact, the same report quoted the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU, which represents bar owners in the area.

“There were days when the police were weak and thank goodness for the bouncers…not all are violent and not all fight,” the GRTU said.

It called for the presence of the police Special Assignment Group to control incidents, a request echoed by a number of residents who had formed a pressure group - Group Acting for a Safe Paceville (GASP).

Residents too complained about the lack of police presence and ineffective action.

The police force defended itself by insisting that officers on the beat there were “fully equipped” and that their complement was increased according to the locality’s needs.

The report, available at www.parliament.gov.mt/socialaffairscommittee, will be open for consultation until March 2.

People can send in their comments to socialaffairs@parlament.mt or via mail to The Committee Secretary, Social Affairs Committee, House of Representatives, The Palace, Valletta.

The recommendations

Strip clubs need to be regulated and banned from using photos to advertise their shows.

A CCTV system should be set up around the locality in strategic areas.

Set up a town management centre with an executive committee responsible for the area.

An effort should be made to reduce the number of cars entering Paceville. While the idea of a park-and-ride system is good, an effort has to be made to create more incentives for people to use it.

The taxi stand has to be shifted to a designated area.

An analysis of the parking spaces for residents is needed as these are often taken up by unauthorised vehicles.

More cooperation between industry and police to maintain order.

Laws need to be revised and strengthened to reflect today’s realities and punishments need to be made harsher to act as a deterrent.

A good rubbish collection system needs to be devised. It has to be efficient and operate at a time while not causing any inconvenience.

Students studying English should be given a set of written rules about what type of behaviour is acceptable and what is not.

More public toilets are needed.

Security needs to be increased on all roads and there should be security checks in nightclubs and bars to ensure these all comply with required safety measures.