Police officers cannot use firearms against people except in cases of “absolute” self defence, according to internal guidelines seen by Times of Malta.

The guidelines that oblige police officers to apply non-violent means before resorting to force and rules on the use of firearms were tightened further two years ago.

In 2012, then police commissioner John Rizzo had included the word “absolute” to qualify the exception of self defence when firearms could be used.

The guidelines were first published in 1995 after an inquiry into a shooting incident involving the police. They are not public.

Read more in Times of Malta.

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