‘No stone left unturned’ to help victims of crime
Two readers of The Times complained about police treatment after reporting they had been pickpocketed.
The police have countered claims of mistreatment by pickpocketing victims, saying officers always treat people who report a crime in a “humble” way and leave “no stone unturned” to solve it.
The statement comes after two readers of The Times complained they experienced complete lack of empathy by police officers when they reported they had been pickpocketed.
The police were sent questions about both incidents towards the end of October and their recent reply noted the culprits had not yet been caught and the cases were being investigated.
All reported crimes were investigated, including these two, a spokeswoman said, adding that “victims are treated in a humble way by the police”.
However, she added: “Having said this, we are not in any way condoning any treatment as mentioned in your mail.
“During similar cases and all other thefts, the police do not leave any stone unturned. These are investigated and if culprits are apprehended they are charged accordingly.”
Australian Joe Ullianich, who boarded a bus in Sliema with three family members on October 8, was discouraged by how officers handled the “evidence” the commuters had found.
At about 10.40am, four boarded a Valletta-bound bus from opposite the Chalet Hotel on Tower Road. When two young men, who boarded the bus with them, got off at the next stop, his wife and her mother discovered their purses were missing.
They reported the incident at the Valletta police station and later produced their passports at the Sliema police station.
In the meantime, they found both purses (empty) in a bin close to the bus stop where the two men had alighted. They put these in a bag to protect any evidence but, despite telling the Sliema police station officer that there could be the thieves’ fingerprints, he handled the purses with his bare hands and looked inside it, Mr Ullianich said.
He said a young Japanese female tourist who walked into the police station to report her purse had been stolen in St Julian’s was “dismissed in a very terse manner” while the officers showed a lack of empathy towards her.
“She left the station in tears,” Mr Ullianich said.
In a letter about a separate incident, Cynthia Whitworth from the UK said her husband’s wallet was stolen on an overcrowded route bus but the couple were “less than impressed with how we were treated” by the police.
They went to the police station in Qawra and, while the woman constable who took their details “was not actually rude to us, she was clipped and curt almost to the point of rudeness”.
“My husband had a sore throat and had almost lost his voice,” she wrote.
“ Appreciating that he might be difficult to understand because of this, I was trying to help in giving details to her.
“I was told in no uncertain terms to be quiet as it was his loss that was being reported.
“Eventually, we emerged from the police station feeling that we were in some way to blame.”
Popular Stories
Update 3: Marsa murder - Police looking...
Update 2: Three arrests after flamingo...
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Updated - Two bodies, capsized boat,...
Franco Mercieca doing routine eye ops at...
In Discussion
Update 2: Three arrests after flamingo...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
Chinese company to study Malta-Gozo...
Updated - PM reacts to Labour anger on...
Franco Mercieca doing routine eye ops at...
No appeals board for first part of power...
Updated - PM comments as Franco Mercieca...
BBC site highlights illegal hunting in Malta
40 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Mr J Grech
Dec 26th 2012, 09:19
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121224/local/police-catch-choker-thief.450842
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Colin Stanley
Dec 25th 2012, 18:43
I bet that these pickpockets are foreigners.
Dennis Agius
Dec 25th 2012, 12:45
some three bad comments made news in this particular online..... can anyone see if there are any appriciation comments on the force....
Francis Zammit
Dec 24th 2012, 19:22
Got mugged in Amsterdam. Police were not particularly sympathetic there either. Not only in Malta then.
Charles Micallef
Dec 24th 2012, 19:20
...............and where is Victim Support Malta in all this?
...are they still in business?
Joseph Schembri
Dec 24th 2012, 18:14
Typical. My car was broken into and the stereo stolen the very kind and gentle policeman at the Paola police station told me that it was my fault since i had forgotten to remove the stereo's face plate. He then proceeded to file a "police report" on a oil stained pastizzi bag. Between the police and the farce occurring in the courts of law a very helpless feeling begins to set in.
Chris Sammut
Dec 24th 2012, 16:27
We the Maltese, although we are known to be very nice with tourists are also known as people of high temper. Also people who wear uniform should bear in mind that they are there to serve the country, and should not think that nobody can speak to them ( of course in good manner). We the Maltese need to learn, to smile when we work in shops or giving a service! Does not cost anything!
GL Calleja
Dec 24th 2012, 16:19
Welcome to the club..A few years ago I was in a crowd following the band playing the marches.All of sudden I realized I was missing my wallet and I went to the police to report the incident. Here is the professional answer given to me by the smart policeman."MELA HAWN QEGHDIN L-AMERICA?"Where do you think we are in America?Very understanding and very sympathetic if you ask me. I did find my wallet
twanny borg
Dec 24th 2012, 15:20
Mela wiehed jitressaq il-qorti akkuzat, johrog b'20,000 depozitu u wara 12-il sena johrog liberat ghax jinstab li kien innocenti. Min jiehu l-interessi fuq dawn il-flus? Mhux ninkludi l-ispejjez l-ohra inkluz avukati. Il-vittmi huma dejjem vittmi.
K. Vella II
Dec 24th 2012, 15:05
Someone I know was the victim of a house burglary. He presented his list of suspects to the police and heard anything else. Months later, he read in the news that someone was arraigned in court over a string of burglaries, including one in his village. He enquired with the Police and confirmed it was his case. He had never been notified about the case being solved, let alone any compensation.
Frans Aguis
Dec 24th 2012, 14:57
Same can be said of young victims of assault.these crimes are threatened as if they're just innocent scuffles however permanent the physical damage is
twanny borg
Dec 24th 2012, 14:53
Familjari tieghi tilef il-mobile u ghamel rapport l-ghassa. Ghaddew sitt xhur u ghadu bla risposta jekk dan intuzax jew le permezz tal-imei number bil-providers. Issa kiteb lill-kummissarju biex jiehu risposta.
anthony sultana
Dec 24th 2012, 14:48
As this morning I ask a question to a policeman,about a traffic accident, and he got angry,well that's how we human are, a policeman is a human too.But also there are some people really nice too, one can find this kind of humans in the police department too.
twanny borg
Dec 24th 2012, 15:04
Naqbel mieghek il-pulizija huma umani jiltaqghu ma' kollox pero jaghmlu hafna gid hemm ohrajn li mhux ta' livell u mhux dejjem gentili. Kieku jien biex tidhol pulizija irid ikollok 21sena biex isir assesment ahjar u jkunu maturi. Hija verita' li hemm min mhux tajjeb ghal pulizija li jaghmel hsara lill-korp kollu. Qatt ma smajt b'min tkecca ghax ma kienx efficjenti hlief fuq reati kriminali.
Amanda Sciberras
Dec 24th 2012, 14:40
It depends with whom you encounter, I found help and support from the most gentle policemen ever, on the same day I met another very young policeman who tried to make fun of me and my case, I was speechless, but though nobody told him to mind his behaviour.
Jay Oatmon
Dec 24th 2012, 14:28
If you believe that "no stone is left unturned to help the victims of crime" then you probably believe in Santa Claus and the easter bunny as well.
James Tyrrell
Dec 24th 2012, 13:51
It is now Christmas 2012, almost a year since the Sliema double homicide last New Year's eve. How have the 'humble' police handled the turning over of stones in that case? The rumours are they have been ordered to drop the case. If that is indeed true who would issue such an order and why?
Colin Rutledge
Dec 24th 2012, 13:27
My experience has shown there are some officers that are really very freindly, polite and go out of their way to help, ( notably an officer from Qawra who dilivered me a court letter in pouring rain ). Then on the other hand there are others that I have witnesed..that..words could not describe their rudeness and lack of respect.. Depends who "nicks" you.....
John Borg
Dec 24th 2012, 13:23
The recruitment process, qualifications required and training process are totally wrong to begin with.
All police must be trained on how to handle people correctly. This might even include some psychology for any kind of event be it a simple pick-pocket theft of greater loss.
They must be well mannered and calm. Most police like feeling in control & shout making situation worse.
Michael Camileri
Dec 24th 2012, 13:01
Crime prevention is the key.... lazy underpaid police is not the answer
James Dewar
Dec 24th 2012, 12:50
"No stone left unturned". It would be interesting to see the Police enquiry log to confirm exacrly what investigation has actually taken place as proof of this statement.
James Dewar
Dec 24th 2012, 12:48
How can "humble" be so readily substituted for "arrogance and incivility"? I have frequently witnessed the arrogant, dismissive and uncaring attitude of Maltese Police Officers (and also many in the UK) although I have no doubt that there are many good professional caring officers in both countries and elsewhere.
Joe Cordina
Dec 24th 2012, 12:38
Finger prints are only examined in serious cases such as breakins involving a considerable value stolen
Patricia Farrugia
Dec 24th 2012, 12:22
Humble! My car's driver side was recently smashed by a hit and run. I did not want 2 touch the car until the police arrived but when I phoned the PS of the locality I was informed that I had 2 drive there and file a report, otherwise they would not come. After a few mins I phoned again and an arrogant policewoman started shouting and told me 2 let them do their job and not interfere in their work!
Mr robert micallef
Dec 24th 2012, 11:49
sorry i could not disagree more with the police. i went to the mellieha police station to report a case of road rage while i was cycling and i was never contacted again until last week where i found out that i am being accused of threatening someone. this is how our investigative amateurs treat crimes. instead of taking an investigation seriously they just accuse all parties involved.
Mr J Grech
Dec 24th 2012, 13:13
Sorry sir, but you are plain wrong. If the other party who you had road rage with, told the police that you threatened him, then the police have no other choice but issue charges against the road rage person, and unfortunately, against you.
It's not up to the Police to decide who is right and who is wrong. It's the Court which decides.
Mr robert micallef
Dec 24th 2012, 13:49
yes mr grech at lest this way they are always 50% correct!! now maybe you can explain to me how someone on a bicycle going up mellieha hill can threaten someone or even talk as i remind you that hill is very hard while the other person is driving a powerfull car ?and why issue charges without calling me to visit the station ? and we wonder why most crime is not reported in Malta.
John Demanuele
Dec 24th 2012, 11:38
All those who ever saw a policeman being humble raise your hands.
Tony Borg
Dec 24th 2012, 12:21
Arrogant ?? Both HANDS are UP!!!
Humble??? YOU must be joking.
Just watch the way the Commissioner answers any questions by the Media and you have the answer right there staring at you.
James Dewar
Dec 24th 2012, 12:43
No show of hands I suspect!
Eric Camilleri (Q)
Dec 24th 2012, 10:59
Part of the blame may be the demoralising fact that most of the time Police see their good work thrown down the drain by the sentencing given at our Law Courts. Catching a culprit for what ? To see him out on a suspended sentence the next day, doing the same thing again.
Robert Callus
Dec 24th 2012, 12:37
They do get their paycheck at the end of the month, don't they? So it's not much of an excuse.
And how is that supposed to justify being rude to the victims?
Mr J Grech
Dec 24th 2012, 13:16
Most pick-pocketing cases, unfortunately have no leads to the culprit/s. Who lives in Sliema/St.Julian's area knows well about this. CCTVs are not always readily available and of a good resolution. We can't expect the Police to work miracles.
At the end of the day, we all have to be extra careful with our personal belongings. It's our responsibility.
Mr robert micallef
Dec 24th 2012, 13:51
It seems Mr J grech has never had anything stolen from him. these people are professional and even if you really care for your belongings i can assure you that the only time u will notice is when you realise that your wallet is stolen. soon he will blame us for carrying money in our wallet.
Mr J Grech
Dec 24th 2012, 15:56
Mr. Micallef,
"these people are professional and even if you really care for your belongings i can assure you that the only time u will notice is when you realise that your wallet is stolen."
Yes, especially if you'll be drunk and won't have any idea what's going on....then you realise the next morning in your hangover.
My point is that we have to be realistic. Not all cases can be solved.
Tracy Piscopo
Dec 24th 2012, 09:24
2. The guy was brought to court and although we were summoned to go we were not even allowed to go in to view the proceedings or talk to the magistrate, a police officer called us and just told us that the session had been closed and that they would try to get at least the money-worth of my brand new phone.......yeah.....that never happened, we don't know if the thief had even showed up.
Joe Cordina
Dec 24th 2012, 12:39
victims of crimes have all the right by law to follow court proceedings from inside the courtroom after having given evidence
Tracy Piscopo
Dec 24th 2012, 09:22
1. Humble my foot. My purse was stolen a few years ago, we SAW who it was he was brought in at the Valletta police station, a policewoman who was on duty told us that they knew he stole numerous handbags, the knew about him. The police officer who took my report was EXTREMELY non-chalant and rude to the point that he even laughed at my Gozitan accent of the word "mera".
g agius
Dec 24th 2012, 14:31
At the police station in Hamrun one of the new police reqruits even tried to scold me because I was speaking in English. He said 'Toqghodx titkellem bl'Ingliz' immediatly I realised he had a problem with understanding the English language.
Charles Muscat
Dec 25th 2012, 08:49
May I ask what mera was suppose to mean in Maltese please?
Please choose the reason of your report below: