Some 230 extra police officers are needed to keep up with the challenges of crime and misdemeanour, according to the Home Affairs Ministry.

The force is currently made up of 1,916 officers who have a heavy workload – each police officer has to deal with an average of 108 cases of theft, vandalism and bodily harm every year, according to the latest available figures, which are from 2011.

The issue of police resources was first flagged up when Times of Malta asked the Home Affairs Ministry why the Swieqi police station remained closed one year after its inauguration.

A ministry spokeswoman said it was because the force could not spare three officers to man it.

Residents of Swieqi, which neighbours the nightlife mecca Paceville, have long been calling for a police station in their localit as they face misbehaving foreign language students, drunken clubbers and burglaries.

More on the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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