A legal framework for the setting up of a police union will be discussed by Cabinet on Tuesday, a Home Affairs Ministry spokeswoman said.

“The Attorney General prepared the work required from him regarding the setting up of the police union. On Tuesday, this will be considered by Cabinet,” the spokeswoman said adding that, at this stage, she could give no further details.

The Malta Police Association has long been fighting for union recognition and, a few weeks ago, the ministry said the Government was working on the legal framework to allow members of the disciplinary corps to join a union.

Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit said yesterday he had consulted with the association before drawing up the new shifts being introduced for officers working in the new Rapid Intervention Unit, to be headed by Assistant Commissioner Pierre Calleja.

The unit, that will consist of 163 officers and will become operational on Monday, is an amalgamation of the former SAG (special assignment group) and the mobile squad that will be disbanded. Officers will wear the usual blue police shirt and black combat trousers to ensure they are comfortable.

Mr Zammit was speaking during a press conference called to explain how the new unit would work. By making the change, he said, the number of police cars on patrol at any one time would increase from the present seven or eight to 12 or 15 cars.

Malta would be divided into smaller zones, which meant that it would be better manned by the police and there would be a faster response time.

To ensure an effective unit, there had to be a change in the shift for its members. The new hours would allow them more time to spend with their loved ones and their salary would remain unchanged.

The shift allowance, already in place before, would be retained. Working hours would include regular training shifts, Mr Zammit said.

He stressed that “nothing is cast in stone” and the new system would be regularly evaluated to ensure it was reaping the desired results.

He said the police force had 1,950 officers and he would like to see the number increase to 2,500.

Opposition home affairs spokesman Jason Azzopardi condemned the disbanding of the SAG, a unit he said had served the country and its national security very well.

He said that “vindictive” transfers kept occurring in the police force.